These doves are figures of a traditional Ottoman wedding. During the wedding ceremony, one male and one female dove would be presented to the couple, as symbols of love. These lovebirds were believed to bring good luck to the family, and were passed on from generation to generation.
      Our doves are made in the Kutahya area in Asia Minor, which is famous for its unique cobalt blue colored cini. A male dove has lines (solid or with patterns) that mark the edges of its wings, a female one does not.
      By the 18th century, the ceramic industry in Iznik, which was at its peak during the 16th century, died out completely and Kutahya replaced it as the leading center in western Anatolia. Indeed, Kutahya had been in operation as a secondary center along with Iznik since the 14th century, but its production always paled in Iznik's brilliance. But where production at Iznik was discontinued, Kutahya plodded on. These lovebirds are a product of famous Kutahya art:

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