EFTA01809944.pdf

Tile Revival A look at the secret of Iznik's colourful ceramics — and the author's own azure acquisition. By Virginia Sheridan It was in Istanbul that I truly became a 'blue' person, obsessed with the dominant colour of the vibrant Iznik ceramic tiles that cover the Turkish city's premiere mosques them to a new generation of artisans. Through intense and sultans' palaces. archaeological research, the Foundation discovered a kiln I would sit for hours in the Sultan Ahmed 'Blue' Mosque, shape that allowed for successful firing of the temperamental awash in a sea of 20,000 handmade azure-glazed tiles so glazes and created a proximate recipe of metal oxides for radiant they seemed illuminated from within. I had to take the pigments. After two years of experimentation, assistance a copy home with me. But the tourist markets sold only from universities and scientific institutes and countless lacklustre, painted imitations and the antiques shops were broken tiles, the vibrant colours emerged once again. curiously tile-free. Why? Each 'modem' Iznik tile takes up to four weeks to The lavish decorating style of the 16th-17th century complete. The resulting product is, in fact, so close to the Ottoman Empire sultans initially fuelled the demand for such original in consistency that the Iznik Foundation decided not exquisite craftsmanship. At the height of production some to produce direct copies - lest they be sold as antiques. The 300 kilns and workshops in the Turkish city of Iznik were new designs are, instead, variations on elacsic themes - a focused on tile work - to the exclusion of more utilitarian reverse of colours here, a blending of patterns there. wares. When the Empire fell, so did both ceramic production Ten more cups of tea and we finally decided on two and quality control. Even the formula for how to create the rectangular pieces with oval edges that together formed a vital glazes vanished. The old masters kept their complicated strong floral vine motif - predominantly blue, of course. production techniques a sekiet, even from their own families. "Alt, a very interesting purchase for the gentleman," said Initially, Iznik potters were hying to create something the mischievous salesman. "Maybe not so lucky for the that looked like porcelain to compete with the coveted blue lady, though. Do not hang it near your bedroom," he added and white ware imported from China at the time. They cryptically. experimented with their native grayish-white clay, covered it In fact, we didn't hang those tiles for 10 years. At first with layers of glaze and slip (clay and water) and eventually we couldn't decide how to display them. Frame them and infused it with radiant life/light in the form of crushed obscure the sides? Add hooks and damage the porous quartz. Almost 80% of Iznik tiles were made of this semi- backs? Then we were stopped by the fear that our toddlers precious stone. No wonder they dazzle! or earthquakes (we were living in Japan at the time) Though the initial palette was only blue and white (and would knock them off the wall. But when we moved into a the designs were reinterpretations of Chinese themes), later shophouse in Singapore and had a glaringly empty space over experiments with manganese, iron and copper oxide yielded the fountain, we knew it was at last time for a tile revival. the richer palette of coral red, turquoise blue and emerald We drank a cup of tea admiring our 'new' addition to green that allowed for more intricate Islamic-style patterns. the home. "Placing it over water is perfect," I said to my So there I was in Istanbul, husband in tow, looking for husband. "Weren't they copies of panels outside an ablution the rose-coloured Hagia Sofia when I began feeling - or fountain at Topkapi Palace?" rather seeing - blue, "No, they were from the harem chambers," he said, emanating from the smiling. "That's why the salesman said it was good for me, inside of a merchant's remember?" shop. Lustrous Iznik- A quick Google search revealed we were both wrong. Our style tiles for sale, could beloved panels were modelled on originals from the Topkapi it be? Could I be arrested Palace Courtyard of the Eunuch! for taking one out of the country? Ten cups of tea later No Iznik tiles are on view in Singapore's NHB museums, (shopping is a slow but you can see a small collection ofIslamic ceramics at the process in Turkey), we Asian Civilisations Museum's West Asia Gallery. For more learned that the 'new' information on the Iznik Foundation, see www.iznik.com tiles were produced by the Iznik Foundation, an organisation set up in Virginia Sheridan has previously been published in the South 1993 by Dr. Isil Akbaygil China Morning Post and the Boston Globe and is currently co-head with the goal of studying of the ACM Docent Training Team. the old tile-making Tile purchased by author techniques and teaching Photos by Virginia Sheridan 8 RUSK& July/August 2009 EFTA_R1_00169996 EFTA01809944