How Turkish Iznik Pottery is Made?

Traditional Iznik pottery making demands precision at every step. Each piece reflects 500 years of Ottoman ceramic art, handmade with exceptional quality.

Here's a breakdown of how Iznik pottery is traditionally made:

1. Preparation of the Ceramic Body (Biscuit)

The base, known as the "biscuit," is formulated with a high quartz content, often ranging from 65-85% ground quartz (also called frit or stone paste).

This high quartz content is a key characteristic of Iznik pottery, distinguishing it from common terracotta or ceramics and giving it a whiter, stronger, and more porcelain-like quality.

The quartz is mixed with a small amount of clay (around 8-13%) and a lead and lime-rich frit or crushed glass (15-18%).

The clay provides plasticity, while the frit acts as a binder during firing. Sometimes, a more finely ground frit is used in the slip.

2. Shaping and Drying

Artists hand-form the quartz paste into tiles, plates, or vases on a potter's wheel. Pieces dry naturally for 10-30 days.

3. Application of (Underglaze) White Slip

Once the pieces are dry, they are coated with a thin layer of white clay. This layer is smoother and finer than the rest of the piece, creating a clean, white surface that makes it easier to paint and helps colors adhere better.

4. First Firing

Pieces fire in a kiln at 950-1050°C. Wood-fired kilns were used historically, so exact temperatures varied. This hardens the clay and prepares it for decoration.

(Some tourist shops claim higher temperatures, but this is not accurate and is often used to mislead customers unfamiliar with Iznik pottery and sell their products at higher prices.)

This first firing hardens the clay and prepares it for decoration.

5. Hand-Painting the Designs (Decorating)

This is a crucial and detailed step that can take 35-100 hours for each piece.

Traditional floral motifs, Rumi patterns, and many others are carefully hand-painted onto the pottery.

Artists usually begin by drawing the designs on paper (many use photocopies of antique Iznik patterns). Very few artists actually design original motifs as it requires the deep knowledge of rules of the Classic Period of Iznik tile art.

Next, they prick tiny holes along the design lines on tracing paper with a needle. This perforated tracing paper is then placed over the pottery, and charcoal dust is gently rubbed over it. The dust passes through the holes, leaving a dotted outline of the design on the pottery’s surface, which the artists then use as a guide for painting.

The outlines of the motifs are painted in black dye, while natural mineral pigments bring the colors to life: cobalt oxide for blue, copper oxide for turquoise, iron oxide for red, manganese oxide for purple, and chrome-based pigments for black and green.

6. Glazing

After painting, a clear, protective double-glaze is applied to the tiles or plates. This glaze, made from a traditional mix that includes lead, is one of the unique features of Iznik pottery. It enhances the brightness of the colors and gives the piece a glossy finish.

Sometimes, tin oxide is added to make the glaze slightly opaque.

Because the glaze contains even a tiny amount of lead, Iznik pottery is not safe for food use. While some tourist shops might say otherwise, there are no national or international official lead-free certificates for handmade Turkish ceramics including the Iznik pottery and ware, so it’s best to use these pieces for decoration only.

Glazed items dry completely before the final firing.

7. Second Firing (Glost Firing)

The glazed piece is then fired in pottery kilns at temperatures ranging from 980 to 1100°C for 18 hours.

After this second firing, small cracks may sometimes appear on the surface, but the colors remain vibrant and will never fade or discolor.

Why This Matters

Creating Turkish Iznik pottery blends skilled craftsmanship with deep knowledge of traditional materials and firing techniques.

Each piece takes hours of handwork; shaping, painting, glazing, firing.

The result is visually stunning pottery rich in cultural significance.

My works honor classic Iznik design traditions and original techniques passed down through centuries. This devotion to authenticity keeps the spirit of Iznik tile art alive for collectors worldwide.