Art of Islamic Patterns: Rüstem Pasha Rosette

Rüstem Pasha served as Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire under Sultan Süleyman, and in 1563 he commissioned architect Mimar Sinan to build a mosque in Rüstem’s name near Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar. Now one of the city’s historic sites, Rüstem also commissioned for it a dazzling array of ceramic tiles painted with subtle and sophisticated patterns

In this fourth installment in our series, we recreate one of these tile patterns, a 12-fold composition that, in several variations, decorates the spandrels and dado around the interior. It is comprised of four continuous spirals woven into a radial rosette. The structure beneath its curvilinear geometry is a six-fold division of the circle, which was also used in installments one and three in this series.

 

Motifs comprise abstract palmettes, stylized flowers, within decorative patterns. Motifs of local plant life distinguish reginal styles from one another. The designs reflect thus a continuum of the surrounding nature. 

The leaf-shaped motifs along the interwoven lines of the rosette are known as Rumi motifs, a reference to Asiatic Rome, that date back to the fourth century BCE as well as later stylistic developments by both Uyghurs in the ninth century CE and the Seljuks in the 11th century CE.

A floral motıf, known as a penç, deriving from the Persian penj berg (five petals), fills the center of the composition. It is rendered here as three concentric rings, comprised of two outer rings of 12 double-lobed petals and a central curvilinear pattern, also of 12 petals. This motif is part of the Hatayı decorative canon that was introduced to Anatolia from central Asia from origins found in Old Uyghur ceramics. The name Hatayı is associated with Herat, Afghanistan, the cultural center of the Timurids and a key trading station along the trans-Asian routes that became known as the Silk Road.

The composition has been skillfully painted onto Iznik tiles, named after the town of Iznik that nestles on a lakeside not far from Istanbul. It was there that in the early 16th century an “Imperial ware,” now called Iznik, was developed using a fritware (glass) body and high-quartz content. The extremely durable results are unaffected by water, moisture, chemicals and temperature changes, and under their protective glaze, their colors have not faded over centuries.

The first stage in producing this masterpiece in ceramic was to draw the pattern on paper. Then the lines were pierced with tiny holes, through which the design could be transferred onto the tile with pigment ready to be hand painted before firing in the kiln.

The curvilinear, biomorphic form is created using a combination of straightedge, compass and freehand drawing. There are three key design elements to consider: spiral, symmetry and balance.

In classical Islamic as well as many other world art traditions, biomorphic designs are structured around a spiral, and from this the motifs and leaves sprout. The movement of nature inspires this unbroken flow of the spiral. It has no hard corners, and the curves are sweeping and gentle. As the spiral advances, it radiates secondary spirals, which in turn radiate others, and soon the page is overgrown. The spiral blossoms from its source like a plant from a seed growing toward the light. This centrifugal movement reflects the progression of creation, moving toward infinity.

 

Once a section of spirals is drawn, they are reflected and repeated to fill a page, a wall or a dome. In so doing, symmetry is fundamental to harmonious design: It exemplifies completeness, perfection and the search for unity.

The decorative designs tessellate across the surface with an even rhythm and texture, with no part taking precedence. The designs oscillate evenly, an effect created by the repetition and arrangements of the motifs. 

Because the act of drawing sacred patterns has often been considered an act of meditation, before creating a work the artisan would make sure the process itself was being approached with adab (etiquette). In addition to ablutions and meditation, this could include making sure all affairs were in order, the mind is empty of matters of the world and the body was relaxed and in flow.

 

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