Page 166 - The Age of Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent

archers was highly respected, and was headed by such impor- cords tied to the stoppers on the spout and mouth are looped
tant persons as §eyh Hamdullah. through these rings and connected to a heavier cord that
The majority of bow cases and quivers was made of em- serves as the handle.
broidered velvet. There were also painted, embroidered, and The bulbous body is covered with red leather and framed
appliquéd leather examples as well as those made of inlaid with white and grayish-blue bands accentuated by gold cord-
wood. 97 Similar to wicker shields, these cases were admired ing. The front and back bear superimposed scrolls with either
by European rulers and preserved in their treasuries. grayish-blue rumis or stylized white blossoms, stitched along
One of the largest collections of Ottoman bow cases and the edges with gold thread to create a beaded effect; gold
quivers, many made as matching pairs, was assembled by thread is also used for the tiny triple balls sprinkled in the
Archduke Ferdinand II at Ambras Castle. It includes a su- interstices. A series of white, black, and red pierced and over-
perbly decorated set (104a and 104b), appliquéd with red, lapping collars appears above the body, decorated with exag-
tan, black, cream, and gilded leather, stitched with blue and gerated volutes, trefoils, and palmettes. The slender neck,
red silk and gold thread. The bow case has a dark red border covered with grayish-blue leather, overlays the upper collar
enclosing a tan field. The border has two superimposed with lobed edges. The flattened sides are appliquéd in the
scrolls rendered in cream with touches of black and gold: one same fashion as the upper body but have at the top lobed
bears hatayi blossoms, buds, and leaves; the other has large ovals enclosing stars, stitched in gold on black leather. The
composite rumis. The field also shows the same two scrolls, sides curve into the rounded base, which contains a scroll
which have larger flowers and are further embellished with bearing trefoils.
cloud bands. The scrolls create spiral formations and overlap In spite of the intricate designs of the appliqués, the can-
the two central red cartouches, the larger of which is placed teen projects a robust and sturdy feeling, most likely resulting
in the wider upper portion of the case, and the smaller set from its simple utilitarian shape and subdued colors. The red
toward the lower edge. There is an empty unit on the upper used here is lighter and brighter than the deep ruby seen ear-
right that must have had a metal component similar to the
gilded silver examples used on the case described above.
The quiver is similarly decorated, but has only one central
red-ground cartouche, above which is a horizontal row of
trefoils enclosed by roundels created by the scrolls. The two
blank areas on projections on the right must have also been
reserved for metal components.
The backs of both cases have wide borders made of black
leather, framed with tan leather strips. The field is covered
with dark blue satin and embellished with leather filigreed
lobed ovals with axial pendants, decorated with two super-
imposed rumi scrolls. The bow case contains a pair of these
ovals, while the quiver has a larger central one, flanked by
cloud bands, following the format used on the exterior.
The decorative themes employing a combination of hatayis,
rumis, and cloud bands suggest that the set was made in the
second quarter of the sixteenth century, prior to the flowering
of the saz style. This date is also supported by the spiral
scrolls. The delicacy of design and the finesse of execution in-
dicate that the cases were produced in the imperial workshop
and presented as a diplomatic gift. The pieces are in impecca-
ble condition and must have been used rarely, if at all, and
preserved with care in the Ambras Castle treasury.
One of the leather appliquéd items in the same collection is
a canteen (105) presented by Murad III to Rudolf II by
98
1581. The shape of this piece is similar to that of the gold
ceremonial matara (see 54) except that it has a rounded base.
On one side is a small spout fitted with an ivory stopper with
a large finial. Another stopper, made of horn and surmounted
by an ivory cap, appears in the mouth. The everted shoulders 105. Appliquéd leather canteen presented by Sultan Murad III to Emperor
contain silver mounts with floral studs and rings; braided red Rudolf II c. 1580 (Vienna, Kunsthistorisches Museum, C. 28)

165