All these pictures are from the monumental grave chamber of Eyüp, which is covered with Iznik tiles of the best quality. The grave proper is in a room that one can look into through elaborate grating. In the room where the believers gather there is a showcase with what must be a footprint of the prophet, I distinctly think it used to be in the Topkapı museum. Here it is much more in its proper place.

On the picture: An unusual geometric design (as far as Ottoman glazed tiles are concerned), going back to 13th and 14th century sculpted stone work examples. Colours and quality of the tile indicates that this is not Iznik work anymore, but probably from Kütahya.

During the 16th-17th centuries Iznik was the main center of glazed ceramics. In the 18th century, Kûtahya took over this position and kept it up to our days. The basic technique didn’t change much. Of course, some steps in the process were industrialised, but an important part of the production is still hand painted, for example. The main difference (that already occurred in the 18th century) is a lesser percentage of quartz in the glaze: %85-95 in Iznik, %30-35 in Kütahya. High quartz glaze is of better quality, but much more difficult to make and thus causing more losses during the production. The latter explains why the Iznik technique was abandoned.

Correspondent: J.M.Criel, Antwerpen.
Source: Website of ‘turkishtileart.com’ .