Page 278 - The Age of Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent

precious materials indicates that the court valued these prod-
ucts as highly as Chinese pieces.
The production of slip-painted ware did not extend beyond
the sixteenth century. Although this technique was also ap-
plied to tiles, it was not very successful, since painting with
polychrome pigments on a smooth white surface offered
greater freedom to the potters.
One of these tiles painted with polychrome pigments is a
relatively large single piece decorated with a saz scroll (206).
Designed as an independent panel, it is framed by a row of
trefoils with additional braids placed along its sides. The saz
scroll, with its highly detailed compound hatayis, leaves,
buds, and blossoms that overlay, intersect, and pierce one an-
other, represents the ultimate expression of this style. A series
of branches radiate from a large central hatayi filled with a
multitude of small flowers and pods; they bear curving feath-
ery leaves and smaller hatayis that are superimposed by

204 (left). Plate with carnations and sweet
alyssum, second half sixteenth century
(Ecouen, Musée de la Renaissance, Cl.
8549)

205 (above). Tankard with floral sprays,
second half sixteenth century {Paris, Musée
du Louvre, A.A. 403)

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