A decoration with glazed tiles, above a window in the southwest corner room of the building. The triangular space is filled with stylised floral motifs in Classical Ottoman style; they date from the 19th century restoration of the mosque, as does the (recently refreshed) painted decor on the wall above. Such paintwork is called ‘kalem işi’ (= work of the pen/paintbrush), because it is inspired on the geometric or stylised ornamentation used by Ottoman calligraphers to illuminate books. This design displays the 19th century late-Ottoman ‘Turkish Baroque’ style, which was influenced by European Neo-Classicism and Neo-Barok. The paintings on the maqarnas-shaped ornaments (in both upper corners of the picture) are slightly older: they date from the 18th century.

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