On the picture: General view of the border(s) of the ‘mihrab’ (prayer niche, which indicates the direction of Mecca). The niche is completely executed in glazed tiles. There are no less than six different borders; from left to right: a border showing elegant calligraphy in which two scripts were used: kufic (in yellow) and sülüs (in white); a border with a muqarnas (stalactite) decoration that has been placed horizontally instead of vertically; a border inspired on the looks of the ‘kündekari’ woodwork technique; and three borders with stylised flowers and leaves.

In the ‘kündekari’ technique pieces of wood of different sizes are worked separately, and then assembled (like a big jigsaw puzzle), without using any glue, split pin or nail. The technique was used in Egypt, Syria and Anatolia from the 11th century on, and became a major art form in Seljuk and late-Seljuk times (13th-15th century).

Correspondent: J.M.Criel, Antwerpen.
Sources: ‘Vakıf Abideler ve eski Eserler’ - Vakıflar Genel Müdürlüğü III, Ankara 1983 & Wikipedia