Guide to Iznik Tile and
Plates
Iznik Tile comes from the city
of Iznik which in earlier times was the city of
Nicea. The two councils of Nicea are important
milestones in Christian Church history.
In the late 16th century the
tiles of Iznik incorporated new designs and new
colors and Iznik immerged as the preeminent city
for tile production in the Ottoman empire. A
major part of the transformation had to do with
the introduction of Persian designs rendered in a
distinctly Ottoman style.
Nurhan Atasoy writes:
"When Sultan Selim I (1512-1520) conquered
Tabriz, craftsmen from that city brought to
Istanbul made their own contributions to Ottoman
Turkish art. Among these diverse craftsmen were
sixteen painters, one of whom, Sah Kulu,
introduced the Saz style into Ottoman art.
This was undoubtedly one of the most
significant innovations in Ottoman decorative
art. Not long after Sah Kulu began to work at the
Ottoman palace workshops, in the early part of
Suleyman the Magnificent's reign (1520-1566), the
influence of his style begins to appear on Iznik
tiles." HISTORY OF IZNIK TILES Iznik Tiles
by Nurhan ATASOY
|
