Page 223 - The Age of Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent

154. Çatma cushion cover, mid-sixteenth century (Cambridge, Mass.,
Harvard University Art Museums, 85.295)

155. Çatma cushion cover, second half sixteenth century
(Boston, Museum of Fine Arts, 77.256)

and detailed in red or pale bluish-green pile. The same color color scheme as the one described above. The field contains a
scheme is employed in the borders, where the tulips are alter- spray with five large carnations, a pair of leaves, and two
nately outlined in red and bluish green, and in the lappets, small tulips growing symmetrically from the base. The carna-
which appear to have been decorated with cloud bands. tions are overlaid by tulips, five-petaled flowers, hyacinths,
The same pattern is found on a number of velvet fragments and rosebuds, while the two feathery saz leaves are overlaid
used as covers for bolsters or floor cushions. 89 It was also by rosebuds. The main themes are rendered in silver, outlined
used on kemha, serenk (see 113), and block-printed silks and detailed in red and green pile on a red velvet ground.
fashioned into garments, as discussed earlier. Kaftans and The six silver lappets at each end contain lobed medallions.
bolster covers with çintemani designs are frequently repre- The compartmented fan-shaped carnation was one of the
sented in manuscripts dating from the mid-sixteenth century, most characteristic motifs on furnishings produced between
attesting to the immense popularity of this theme during Sü- the mid-sixteenth and mid-seventeenth centuries. It fre-
leyman's reign. quently appears on velvet nihales and cushion and bolster
An equally popular motif was fan-shaped carnations filled covers as well as on embroideries and brocaded silks. Bolster
with additional flowers, generally employed as an overall re- covers also employed overall patterns of blossoms and plane-
peat pattern. One of its earlier and more lively renditions is tree leaves superimposed by floral sprays in addition to cen-
90
on a çatma yastik (155) that employs the same technique and tralized compositions with radiating elements. The yastik

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