About Us

Iznik Classics - Turkish Ceramics Art & Design Gallery
 

Tahir Eğinci with Oprah Winfrey
Iznik Classics was established in 1994 by Tahir Eğinci, Turkish arts and crafts dealer with an experience of 25 years. Eğinci, also a collector himself, established his first rugs store in the old town in Istanbul. Later his passion of ceramics and antiques headed him to a new business concept born as the Iznik Classics. Iznik Classics with three stores in the heart of Istanbul serves the taste of ceramics lovers with high quality Iznik-ware together with contemporary Turkish ceramics and decorative arts.

Ceramics occupy an important place with a profound and influential history in Anatolian Turkish decorative arts. The ceramics of Iznik - patronised by the sultans- were among the finest works of art in the Ottoman Empire. The successive stylistic phases reflect the major changes in Ottoman taste from the late 15th to the 17th century. Iznik tiles reached their zenith in the second half of the 16th century. The technical quality, beauty and exquisite designs of this pottery made it one of the most popular and enduring art forms of the Islamic world.

Unfortunately the technique and creative genius used to make the Iznik tiles was lost to mankind for almost two hundred years, vanishing in the 18th century. The masters of this art have been working continuously for the last 50 years in an effort to give a rebirth to these classic ceramics. After years of research and experimentation, few masters have been successful in reproducing the same quality of tiles as their predecessors. Moreover, fewer of these masters developed their own style and techniques inspired of the past heritage.
 
Under the patronage of Iznik Classics,  talented craftsmen enables the continuity of Iznik fritware. We also develop new collections with contemporary ceramic artists mingling classical Iznik style with contemporary approaches. Our aim is to be a bridge between the precious works of Turkish decorative arts and your lives.
 

Collaborations
 
Four Seasons Hotel at Sultanahmet
Four Seasons Hotel at the Bosphorus
Raffles Istanbul
Blue House Hotel Sultanahmet
JF Chen Los Angeles