Page 204 - The Age of Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent

and pink on a gold ground and decorated with two central This example combines the §emse (radiating star or central
cypress trees flanked by hyacinth sprays growing from a pair medallion) motif found on manuscript illuminations with saz
of double wavy lines. On either side of each hyacinth spray blossoms and leaves; in addition it employs the serrated
are two other cypresses flanked by three-pronged tulips rising plane-tree leaf, which was popular in textiles, particularly in
from a similar source; the voids at the top contain sprays of velvets. The use of roosters is highly unusual for embroidered
tulips and leaves that grow from pots or vases. This example, pieces, although birds do appear on the tiles and ceramic
found in the Mausoleum of Ahmed I, may date from a plates of the age.
slightly later period although it is technically identical to the This embroidered piece could have been made as a cushion
others in the series. for a throne or a sofa. Its design differs from other embroi-
Gold and silver embroidery was also applied to cushion dered squares used as bohças, head scarves, and turban cov-
covers, one of the most refined examples showing a radiating ers. Although bohças vary in size according to their function,
design composed of floral scrolls and roosters on a ruby-red they are generally decorated with wide borders. Borders also
satin ground (135). In the center is a multipetaled blossom appear on head scarves and turban covers, which have a cen-
surrounded by small flowers and enclosed by a medallion tral medallion that was placed on the top of the head or
with eight palmettes. The scalloped floral scroll around the headdress. These, however, are generally made of light-
medallion contains eight points that terminate in two alter- weight, finely woven linens or cottons and thus are much
nating motifs. The motif at the four corners shows a large softer. 64
plane-tree leaf superimposed by a central blossom that Similar finely woven cloths were used for quilt covers
sprouts smaller flowers; a pair of feathery leaves grows from (yorgan ortüsü). They are possibly the best-known examples
its sides and swoops down; a rooster, shown in profile with of Turkish embroidery, with large quantities of seventeenth-
its head turned back, perches on the branch below. The other and eighteenth-century examples collected in European and
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motif is a large hatayi blossom with buds and leaves spring- American museums. The covers have borders on all four
ing from its apex. The main elements are embroidered in gold sides; the centers are decorated either with overall patterns
and silver zerduz with three shades each of blue, green, and that repeat the same motifs, which are frequently placed in
yellow applied to the flowers. alternating rows, or have vertical-stem formations; a few also

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