The Ottoman Empire was by far the most enduring state (698-1341 AH/1299-1923 CE) in the history of the Islamic world. At its height, it was the largest and most powerful political entity west of China, with territory that included 32 provinces and numerous vassal states. It was a multicultural and multilingual empire, and its arts reflected the diversity of its people.
Architectural commissions were central to the formation of an Ottoman identity and helped to spread a distinctive 'Ottoman' style among the general population. By the mid 10th century AH/16th century CE, tiles started to appear on the facades of these commissions.
Iznik Tiles
Iznik pottery gets its name from the town of Iznik in western Anatolia (modern-day Turkey), where it was originally produced. The earliest evidence of Iznik production date back to the reign of Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II (r. 854-886 AH/1451-81 CE), who admired the fine blue and white Chinese Ming porcelains, inspiring local potters to create similar ceramics. By the mid 10th century AH/16th century CE, tiles made from the town started to appear on the facades of architectural commissions such as palaces and mosques.
These particular tiles date to the 10th century AH/mid-16th century CE, a peak period for Iznik pottery, when Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent (r. 926-974 AH/1520-66 CE) commissioned tiles for his newly constructed mosque in Istanbul. Characteristic features of Iznik ceramics, such as the vibrant cobalt-blue and white designs and the hard, glossy white body, are evident in these tiles. The introduction of red, seen here decorating the tile borders, in Iznik pottery was first seen in the Süleymaniye Mosque (built between 957-965 AH/1550-1557 CE), with the color possibly derived from iron-rich red earth found in Armenia.
The development of proprietary recipes and processes was time-consuming and costly, but the palace played a key role in encouraging and supporting these workshops. The Ottoman sultan, his family and his administration were the main purchasers of Iznik ceramics (especially tiles) throughout the 10th century AH/16th century CE.
By Reem Aboughazala and Teslim Sanni - MIA Curatorial Team
