Çini (Tile) having an important place among the traditional Turkish arts, got its name as an Ottoman word with the meaning 'coming from China'.

 

The protective transparent layer created by the melting glaze on the plate made of tile paste, as a result of coloring the plates in various forms, glazing and baking, became the basis of the art of tiles. It provided the architectural ornament in which it was used with a permanent color that will never deteriorate. The first examples of tiling, which enriched by stylistic changes according to time and regions, were seen in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia with the use of colored glaze on bricks. Glazed plates used by the Uighurs before Islam show the deep-rooted history of this technique in Turkish art. Tile art is the most colorful branch of interior and exterior architectural decoration. While the tile decoration of each period continues the application understanding of the previous periods, this branch of art has become quite rich with the application of new techniques and colors.

 

A naturalistic understanding was generally followed in the tiles made with an elegant pattern understanding; Various flowers such as tulips, hyacinths, carnations, roses and rosebuds, irises and daffodils, bunches of grapes, spring branches, blooming trees, cypress and even apple trees have been stylized and used in various compositions. The sharp-toothed leaves curled in the shape of daggers and bird figures in various postures among them, sometimes animals mentioned in legends, geometric shapes and designs created with rumis are also included in the decorations in different periods. The Ottoman palace style, which was created by deep-rooted and rich resources, provided a stylistic integrity in the art of tiles, along with various branches of art, and led to the production of works of cultural heritage value.

 

Materials for tiling:

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Equipment that we call biscuits, tile paints (under glaze), brushes of various sizes, tracing paper, drawing pencil, eraser, coal dust, scale, tirilin, ruler, compasses etc. Various materials are used for application during and after the design phase.