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International Art Treasures Web Magazine February 2005 |
Turks Journey of 1,000 Years
Turks: A Journey of a Thousand Years, 600-1600
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The Turkish Empires spanned Europe and Asia from the Mediterranean to China. Predominately an Islamic culture, Chinese and other influences are found in the artifacts that comprise this exhibit. |
Turks includes nearly 300 objects that are drawn from museums in Turkey. Particularly the Topkapi Palace Museum and the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art of Istanbul. Many of the items will be on display outside of Turkey for the first time. |
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The Turks were not necessarily the artisans themselves but it was their travels that brought the objects or creators under the Turkish influence. |
The organization is chronological and follows some of the key dynasties. The first portion focuses primarily on Uighurs, a Turkic speaking population from Western China that dominated portions of Asia in 744 - 840 AD. |
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The Uighurs would be overthrown by another Turkic tribe and they would serve as the official secretaries of future regimes with their excellent script and language abilities.
Title: Illuminated Page from a Book on Rhetoric, 1467
Copied by Calligrapher Ata allah b. Muhammed al-Tabrizi
Medium: Size Paper
Dimensions: 26.5 x 16.6 cm
Permanent Collection: Topkapi Saray Museum, Istanbul Hadiye
Photography: Hadiye Cangokce
Image Courtesy: The Royal Academy of Arts
The Great Seljuks who ruled Afghanistan and Central Asia were the next leaders of the Turkish Empire. Thanks to the conversion to Islam by the army chief Seljuk, that became the predominant religion upon the Turks.
Title: Jeweled Bowl, late 16th Century
Medium: Porcelain, Gold, Ruby
Dimensions: 14.2 x 7.2 cm
Permanent Collection: Topkap_ Saray Museum, Istanbul
Photography: Hadiye Cangokce
Image Courtesy: The Royal Academy of Arts
The Seljuks loved art and decoration. They were responsible for rescuing the Caliph of Islam, captured and held in Baghdad, in 1055. It led to prosperous times, as their leader, Tughrul, was hailed Sultan of Sunni Islam in thanks for his heroism. One of their many talents was literature and the exhibit includes several 11th Century Turkish books. The dynasty was overthrown by the Mongols in 1194.
Muhammad of the Black Pen
Title: Two Demons Dancing From the arayAlbum. Fourteenth-Fifteenth Century
Attributed to Muhammad Siyah Qalam
Medium: Ink and Gouache on Unpolished Paper
Dimensions: 34 x 50 cm
Permanent Collection: Topkapi Saray Museum, Istanbul Hadiye
Photography: Hadiye Cangokce
Image Courtesy: The Royal Academy of Arts
Muhammad of the Black Pen was the nickname given to Muhammad Siyah Qalam. An entire gallery is given to his works. Not much is known about the artist himself but his works are reflective of a nomadic life.
Title: Group of Three Figures, (Detail) Late-Fourteenth Century
Attributed to Muhammad Siyah Qalam
Medium: Ink and Gouache on Unpolished Paper
Dimensions: 34 x 50 cm
Permanent Collection: Topkapi Saray Museum, Istanbul Hadiye
Photography: Hadiye Cangokce
Image Courtesy: The Royal Academy of Arts
Timur, an admirer of Genghis Khan, was able to bring Iran, Afghanistan and Central Asia under his rule, heralding the next dynasty to the Turks, the Tirmurid. Timur was an art patron and added much to the collection of Turkish artifacts. His practice was continued by his successors.
Title: Ceremonial helmet, Mid-Sixteenth Century
Medium: Iron, Steel, Gold, Turquoise, Ruby
Dimensions: Height 28 cm
Permanent Collection: Topkap_ Saray Museum, Istanbul
Image Courtesy: The Royal Academy of Arts
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The exhibit ends with three galleries devoted to the Ottoman Empire. |
