ART OF FAIENCE TILES IN RUSTEM PASHA MOSQUE IN ISTANBUL

There are five great forms and expressions in the Ottoman art: architecture, calligraphy, illumination, miniature and faience painted tiles. The last form should be particularly singled out since they were unrivalled in the Islamic art, except perhaps those which were made in Safavid Iran. However, Ottoman tiles are so recognizable that they are the first that come to mind when we think of ceramics in the Ottoman art. We primarily refer to those made in Iznik in the 16th century, although earlier forms were also impressive, particularly those from the Seljuk period. However, they were closer to the mosaic type. It was Ottomans who invented the tiles as we know today, of quadrilateral form, which were then assembled into a single visual composition. These tiles were intended for decorating mosques, tombs and palaces and essentially did not differ depending on usage: those in mosques were identical to those in palaces or other public buildings. Today, the most beautiful examples of Ottoman Iznik tiles can be seen in Topkapi Palace, Sultan Ahmed / Blue Mosque, Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Mosque (at Kadirga) and in Rustem Pasha Mosque. Many other buildings were also luxuriantly decorated; however, these are the best-known examples. Interestingly, the tiles were typically used for decorating the interior. Unlike Safavids, Ottomans did not decorate mosques on the outside, although there were such cases. However, there were only few, and it was mostly entrances that were decorated. The best-known example of exterior decoration is certainly the Topkapi Palace, where some walls of the palace are completely covered with tiles.  

The City of Iznik was the center of the production of tiles, as well as of other ceramic items. The most important production dates back to the mid-16th century, and it lasted until the mid-17th century, when this form of art lost its vitality. Still, some periods became legends, such as those marked by the activity of the famous artist Shah Quli (the first half of the 16th century, of Persian origin, born in Tabriz, Iran, also known for his paintings), whose painted tiles (based on his design) can be seen on the walls of the Topkapi Palace.

All historians single out the Rustem Pasha Mosque as a special example of using tiles for decoration. It is one of few mosques which are decorated with tiles on the outside as well, in the zone of entrance wall. This mosque, built in 1563, after the death of great Bosniak Rustem Pasha and built according to the design of Mimar Sinan, is considered one of his best creations. Although Sultan Ahmed Mosque is known as “blue”, although there is nothing too blue in its decoration, we can declare Rustem Pasha Mosque a truly blue mosque since blue tiles really prevail in it.

This mosque is unique for many reasons. Firstly, its interior is completely (except for the dome) covered with Iznik tiles. Secondly, they are perhaps the most beautiful examples of ceramic art, and compositions on the mihrab particularly stand out. Thirdly, all the tiles were part of Rustem Pasha's private collection and after his death they were used for decorating the mosque. It was a problem, because not all the tiles were part of a compositional whole and therefore in some parts of the mosque one can observe that the tiles were arranged without a visual order. Leaders of works obviously had a serious problem of how to meaningfully fit Rustem Pasha's collection, which was partly random, within the mosque interior. In general, research revealed the data that there are 15,043 pieces of faience decorated tiles in the Rustem Pasha Mosque. In terms of style, rumi and hataji styles prevail: rumi, which prefers curly floral ornaments and hataji with big flowery patterns.