Page 282 - The Age of Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent

209. Lunette with saz scroll from the Palace of Piyale Pa§a, c. 1573 (Boston,
Museum of Fine Arts, 06.2437)

placed over windows or doors, or used to decorate the porti- defines the central arch. The inscriptions, in white talik on a
cos, as observed in several contemporary mosques. 133 blue ground, fill two oval cartouches within the panel. A few
Among the most renowned sixteenth-century tiles are three floral elements grow from the letters, and one daring tulip
panels originally commissioned by Murad III for the chamber even pierces a horizontal stroke. The spandrels of the arch are
adjacent to the imperial baths in the Harem of the Topkapi filled with white cloud bands on a red ground. The deep blue
Palace. These panels, later moved to an area known as the field encloses a glorious flowering fruit tree, its turquoise
Golden Passage (Akin Yol), are constructed of forty-five branches bearing red and white blossoms and buds. Growing
square tiles and decorated with Persian verses placed above at its base is a rich cluster of leaves overlaid by floral sprays
the arches, each of which has a different composition. 134 and surrounded by bunches of tulips, hyacinths, and buds.
One of them (210) is framed with a turquoise and red Two other bushes with tulips, carnations, and roses flank the
band decorated with white rumis; the same band appears be- foot of the tree with additional small sprays placed between.
low the narrow panel with the inscriptions at the top, and The verses in the oblongs state that the §ahni$in of the ex-

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