The Glazed Tile Techniques of the Seljuk and Beylik Periods

Abstract

The word “tile” originates from Persian and means “China” or “Chinese work”. In the Ottoman language, the word “tile” also means “Chinese work”, or “belonging to China”. The art of Turkish tiles occupies a place of prominence in the history of Islamic art. Its roots can be traced at least as far back as the Uygurs of the eighth and ninth centuries. Its subsequent development was influenced by the Karakhanids, the Ghaznavids, and (especially) Iranian Seljuk art. With the Seljuks’ victory over the Byzantines at Malazgirt in 1071, the art followed them into Anatolia and embarked upon a new period of strong development fostered by the Anatolian Seljuk sultanate. The first major development in the art of tile-making occurred primarily in Anatolian Seljuk architecture. Various techniques have been used in the art of tiles which gave hundreds of samples for centuries. This study explores the glazed tile techniques used in the production of the Seljuk and Beylik periods.