Page 273 - The Age of Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent

themes. The upper hemisphere is blank, with a thin blue line
and a row of trefoils lining its perimeter.
There are several equally large hemispherical ornaments,
each decorated with a different composition. 123 Similar to the
large polychrome mosque lamps, they appear to have been
popular in the second half of the sixteenth century. The pro-
duction of these ceramic lamps and ornaments reflects a
trend in decorating the structures as well as the flowering of
¡znik workshops.
Ceramic objects with intricate saz scrolls, fantastic foliage,
and sophisticated designs coexisted with another group which
relied on simpler compositions and motifs, frequently repre-
senting sprays of roses and rosebuds intermingled with carna-
tions, tulips, and blossoming fruit-tree branches. A character-
istic of this group is a red rose in full bloom, shown in profile
with its layered petals detailed in reserve, accompanied by
buds and ovoid leaves.
This flower appears on a variety of objects, including a lid-
ded bowl with a high foot in the British Museum (197). The
lid surmounted by a large knob repeats the shape of the
rounded body, creating a flattened globe with two axial ex-
tensions, one forming the knob, the other the slender flaring
foot. The knob, surmounted by a red blossom, joins the lid

198 (above). Jug with sprays oí roses, second half sixteenth century (Paris,
Musée du Louvre, 7595)

199 (right). Plate with floral spray and two birds, second half sixteenth
century (New York, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 59.69.1)

with a series of bands decorated with overlapping petals and
braids. Growing from the outer band and radiating toward
the edge of the lid are four blue cypress trees alternating with
sprays containing a pair of large roses and a rosebud amid
leaves and two small crocuslike flowers; at the base of the
spray is a lobed crescent. A blue band with bisected blossoms
facing down encircles the lid.
An identical band, with its half blossoms facing up, appears
around the rim of the bowl. The walls show the same design
used on the lid with a pair of additional red tulips flanking
the roses. The flora grow up from the base of the bowl, coun-
teracting the downward orientation of the motifs on the lid.
The foot contains tulips alternating with crocuses, which
grow down, following the direction on the lid. Inside the
bowl is a medallion with a multipetaled blossom.
197. Covered bowl with sprays of roses, second half sixteenth century Covered bowls, also produced in four-color ware with pur-
(London, The British Museum, Fb. Is. 5) ple, were at times painted in reserve on blue or red grounds.

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