Page 258 - The Age of Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent

in two by the ring, which is framed on both sides by tur- turquoise blossoms and blue S-shaped motifs. The cavetto has
quoise strips. Braided bands appear at the edge of the slightly a series of blue cloud bands enclosing turquoise flowers. The
flaring rim and below the ring. Continuous scrolls bearing central medallion contains spiral scrolls that create five vol-
tiny buds and leaves, accentuated by turquoise and blue loz- utes around a central one that has a blossom in its core and
enges, revolve around the neck. A plain white band appears thickly painted leaves defining its perimeter. Trefoil car-
at the base of the neck. touches with rumis appear between the outer volutes; car-
The zone around the shoulder contains a different applica- touches and blossoms, cut off by the frame, line the outer
tion of the same scroll, which creates seven spiraling circles; edge. The exterior repeats the design used on the interior of
similar lozenges are placed at the points of intersection and the cavetto, with small sprays of blossoms and leaves added
cut off by the frames at the top and bottom. The swelling to the interstices.
body repeats the same design, employing six large volutes Other plates with similar scrolls in the central medallion
with larger lozenges composed of turquoise and blue rumis. have variations in the cavetto and rim, incorporating floral
A crosshatched small diamond is placed in the center of each sprays, garlands, or wave patterns; a few incorporate hatayi
circle. A scroll with cloud bands encircles the lower body, scrolls and bunches of tulips. Some have foliated rims while
while a pair of thin turquoise lines and a chevron band were others are shaped as flat trays.
painted on the foot. Blue and turquoise were also used on tiles, including small
Bottles with thick rings on their necks were popularly pro- hexagonal pieces decorated with identical radial composi-
duced in sixteenth-century iznik ceramics, some of which tions, indicating that they were mass-produced from the same
were decorated with naturalistic blossoms in blue and tur- cartoons. One design used in these tiles consists of a central
quoise or polychrome. 95 blossom enclosed by a six-pointed star; from alternate points
The themes on the bottle reappear on a large plate (179), a pair of branches evolves and creates three large ogival car-
which has a foliated rim decorated with a scroll bearing small touches (180). Each cartouche is flanked by large rumis and

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