An Assessment on The Rûmî Patterns Used in The 15th Century Ottoman Painted Decorations

Abstract

The Ottoman concept of decoration, unlike the ornament approaches of previous periods in painted decoration art, presented a new style in the 15th century. In the emergence of this difference, which was not seen in the Seljuks, where they inherited their heritage, the change of the Ottomans from the principality to the state, Timur and his transfer of artists from nearby geographies had a great impact. The applications of this effect can be seen in the painted decorations of structures in Bursa and Edirne, the capitals of the Ottomans. In the existing painted decorations found in the structures that have reached today, the pattern density and exaggeration in the motives that make up the patterns are conspicuous.In particular, the exemplifies in Edirne Muradiye Mosque, Bursa Şehzade Mustafa-Cem Sultan Tombs represent the understanding of the period in the most beautiful way. We can be followed this change of understanding best in the Rumi patterns, which are one of the main patterns of Turkish decoration. The Rumi patterns, which were used in calmer and simpler means during the periods when they were successor-predecessors, were drawn in detail and colored similarly in this century. Apart from the classical Rumi typology specified in the decoration books, fancy practices were made and new examples reflecting the excitement of the era were put forward. These are interesting Rumi patterns, which we called unified and conjoined Rumi, which have not been commented on until today. In this study, different forms of motifs seen in 15th-century Ottoman handdrawn ornaments were examined. While plain (simple), sencide, hug, scrap, sliced and dendan types have been briefly defined, “integrated and adhered to strips” types have been extensively discussed. In addition, these innovative designs, which appear as the original embroidery of the period, were considered as an effect of the Sufi understanding of the period and the subject was evaluated from this point of view.

Keywords

• 15th century painted decoration
• bursa school
• mysticism
• unified rûmî
• striped rûmî