Page 152 - The Age of Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent

name of Sokollu Mehmed Pa§a, 8ü Süleyman's last grand vezir, Attached to the very top is a multipetaled gold blossom ren-
who also served his son and grandson. dered in relief, its central gem missing.
The style and technique of decoration employed on the ap- A molded band joins the head to the handle, which is di-
plied components of the helmet were used also on a gold- vided into five zones separated by rings; the molded band,
sheathed mace (85), which has an iron or steel core. Its the rings between the zones, and the rounded terminal are
spherical head has a series of vertical panels separated by set with gems. The upper four zones of the handle are subdi-
raised ribs enclosing hatayi scrolls on a ring-matted ground; vided into vertical panels by slightly raised ribs, each filled
the scrolls bear blossoms that rise high above the surface and with delicately rendered saz scrolls; the ribs and panels in the
are set with rubies or turquoises. The overall effect suggesting lowest zone are placed diagonally, creating a twisted effect.
fluting is identical to the crown of the helmet. The apex of Ottoman maces were also made of rock crystal, jade, and
the mace, in contrast, was worked in a different technique: it silver; some have spherical or flanged heads, others show
has a gold medallion pierced with a scallop pattern and inlaid balls attached to chains. 82
with thin sheets of turquoise in a technique called firuzekari. 81 The most splendid piece produced during the reign of Sü-

Detail of head, 85

85. Jeweled gold mace, mid-sixteenth century (Istanbul,
Topkapi Sarayí Müzesi, 2/715)

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