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Topkapı Scroll

March 08, 2024

The Topkapı Scroll (Turkish: Topkapı Parşömeni) is a Timurid dynasty pattern scroll in the collection of the Topkapı Palace museum.

Two adjacent patterns in the Topkapı Scroll. The cube-like red hexagon in the left pattern is covered in Square Kufic script.

The scroll is a valuable source of information, consisting of 114 patterns that may have been used both indirectly and directly by architects to create the tiling patterns in many mosques around the world, including the quasicrystal Girih tilings from Darb-e Imam.

Physical properties edit

The Topkapı scroll is a 33 cm (13 in) wide scroll of 29.5 m (97 ft) in length, which is unrolled side to side.[1] One end of the scroll is fixed to a wooden roller, and the other end is glued to a protective leather piece.[2]

A number of parchment pieces featuring various patterns are applied on the scroll. The differences in the border of some drawings indicate that the Topkapı Scroll consists of two different scrolls fixed together. The fact that it is not worn out suggests that it was not made to be used as a reference document in a craftsman's workshop, but rather than as an exhibition work in the palace. It was probably a record of tiling works carried out in the palace.[3]

The scroll was made by one person only. Most of the patterns were drawn on two pieces of parchment that were put together, and then pasted on the scroll. The placement of the patterns on the scroll is somewhat disorganized. Patterns of similar themes are fallen apart, and some patterns formed on two parchment pieces are combined imperfectly.[3]

The stamp on the scroll "H1956" indicates that it is registered in the inventory of the Topkapı Palace's Treasury department.

An edition of the scroll was published with an extensive commentary, but it is now out of print.

History edit

The Topkapı Scroll was presumably prepared in Iran during the Safavid dynasty in the end of the 15th century or beginning of the 16th century. A similarity between some of the patterns on the Topkapı Scroll and a tile panel in the Jame-e Kabir Mosque (grand mosque) in Yazd indicates that this scroll was created in Tabriz. On the other hand, it is possible that the scroll was made in Shiraz because it consists of mainly muqarnas in the form of a hand-held fan referred by Jamshīd al-Kāshī as Shirazi. It may have been looted by the Ottomans after the Ottoman–Safavid War (1578–90).

The muqarnas on the scroll, which are mostly in the form of a hand-held fan, reflect the architectural style of the Timurid dynasty, Turkmen people in Iran and Central Asia. In contrast, the muqarnas in Cairo are in the form of seashell.

The Topkapı Scroll was discovered in 1986. Gülru Necipoğlu of Harvard University published a book, which describes the scroll with copies of its patterns.[4] The book was translated into Persian language by Mihrdad Kayyumi Bidhind under the title Handasa va Tazyin dar Mi‘mari-yi Islami: Tomar-i Topkapı (Tahran, Kitabkhana-yi Milli-yi Iran, 1379).

Content edit

 
Quarter dome muqarnas - in the form of a seashell (top), in the form of a radial, hand-held fan (bottom)

The scroll consists of 114 geometric patterns drawn in ink and dye. It displays decorative ornaments found on the walls and domes of structures built between the 10th and 16th century in the Timurid dynasty. It was a guidebook for architectural designs seen in complex muqarnas, girih, mosaic panels and colorful tiles. The scroll does not mention how those patterns are constructed, and has no date or signature.[2]

The two-dimensional figures make it unclear how they can be employed to three-dimensional ornamental objects.[5][6]

One of the characteristics of the Topkapı Scroll is that it includes Arabic calligraphy called square or geometric Kufic. This script type was seen for the first time in the state of Ilkhanate, and it was presumably created in inspiration from Chinese characters in rectangular form.[3] One of the patterns on the Topkapı Scroll, which matches an existing architectural structure, is the Kufic script drawn for banna'i, in which tiles are alternated with plain bricks to create geometric patterns over the surface of a wall. Almost exactly the same of this pattern is found on the gate of a mosque in Varzaneh.[2]

 
Hexagon with Kufic scripts of six time Muhammad (Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd Allāh) and three time Ali (Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib) in rotational symmetry

Some of the patterns show the application of geometric principles to Islamic traditions. For example, the word Muhammad (Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd Allāh) is repeated six times along the sides of the hexagon, and the word Ali (Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib) three times in a rotating wise in the inner hexagon.[7]

One pattern on the scroll consists of nine-pointed and eleven-pointed geometric star figures, and other one thirteen-pointed and sixteen-pointed geometric star figures. In the Islamic art, this sort of stars were developed by folding certain patterns along the sides of a square.[8]

Some of the drawings on the scroll are formed by overlapped patterns of different scales. This feature is seen frequently in Islamic architecture. Detailed patterns within an ornament appear when one gets closer to a building with figures, which are difficult to perceive from the distance.[1]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Cromwell, P.R. (2009). "The Search for Quasi-Periodicity in Islamic 5-fold Ornament". Mathematical Intelligencer. 31 (1): 36–56. doi:10.1007/s00283-008-9018-6. S2CID 18284378.
  2. ^ a b c Gülru Necipoğlu (1992). Geometric Design in timurid/Turkmen Architectural Practice: Thoughts on a Recently Discovered Scroll and Its Late Gothic Parallels (PDF). E.J. Brill. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  3. ^ a b c Rogers, J.M. (1997). "Notes on a recent study of the Topkapı scroll: a review article". Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. 60 (3): 433–439. doi:10.1017/s0041977x0003247x. JSTOR 619536. S2CID 145620733.
  4. ^ Gülru Necipoglu: The Topkapı Scroll: geometry and ornament in Islamic architecture. Palace Museum Topkapı Library MS H. 1956. xiii, 395 pp. Santa Monica, CA: Getty Center for the History of Art and the Humanities, 1995
  5. ^ Artisans and Mathematicians in Medieval Islam. The Topkapi Scroll: Geometry and Ornament in Islamic Architecture by Gülru Necipoğlu Review by: George Saliba (1999). Journal of the American Oriental Society, Vol. 119, No. 4, pp. 637-645 [1]
  6. ^ van den Hoeven, Saskia, van der Veen, Maartje. (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-09-27. Retrieved 2011-12-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ Hacali Necefoğlu. "Turkish Crystallografic Patterns: From Ancient to Present" (PDF). Retrieved 2011-12-30.
  8. ^ Cromwell, P. R. (2010). "Islamic geometric designs from the Topkapı Scroll I: unusual arrangements of stars". Saudi Aramco World. 4 (2): 73–85. doi:10.1080/17513470903311669. S2CID 122299743.

External links edit

  • The Topkapi Scroll: Geometry and Ornament in Islamic Architecture @ Getty
  • Animation of Girih pattern development on the Topkapı Scroll
  • Peter J. Lu and Paul J. Steinhardt, "Decagonal and Quasicrystalline Tilings in Medieval Islamic Architecture," Science (2007
  • Square Kufix script examples from the Topkapı Scroll
 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Topkapi Scroll.

March 08, 2024
topkapı, scroll, turkish, topkapı, parşömeni, timurid, dynasty, pattern, scroll, collection, topkapı, palace, museum, adjacent, patterns, cube, like, hexagon, left, pattern, covered, square, kufic, script, scroll, valuable, source, information, consisting, pat. The Topkapi Scroll Turkish Topkapi Parsomeni is a Timurid dynasty pattern scroll in the collection of the Topkapi Palace museum Two adjacent patterns in the Topkapi Scroll The cube like red hexagon in the left pattern is covered in Square Kufic script The scroll is a valuable source of information consisting of 114 patterns that may have been used both indirectly and directly by architects to create the tiling patterns in many mosques around the world including the quasicrystal Girih tilings from Darb e Imam Contents 1 Physical properties 2 History 3 Content 4 References 5 External linksPhysical properties editThe Topkapi scroll is a 33 cm 13 in wide scroll of 29 5 m 97 ft in length which is unrolled side to side 1 One end of the scroll is fixed to a wooden roller and the other end is glued to a protective leather piece 2 A number of parchment pieces featuring various patterns are applied on the scroll The differences in the border of some drawings indicate that the Topkapi Scroll consists of two different scrolls fixed together The fact that it is not worn out suggests that it was not made to be used as a reference document in a craftsman s workshop but rather than as an exhibition work in the palace It was probably a record of tiling works carried out in the palace 3 The scroll was made by one person only Most of the patterns were drawn on two pieces of parchment that were put together and then pasted on the scroll The placement of the patterns on the scroll is somewhat disorganized Patterns of similar themes are fallen apart and some patterns formed on two parchment pieces are combined imperfectly 3 The stamp on the scroll H1956 indicates that it is registered in the inventory of the Topkapi Palace s Treasury department An edition of the scroll was published with an extensive commentary but it is now out of print History editThe Topkapi Scroll was presumably prepared in Iran during the Safavid dynasty in the end of the 15th century or beginning of the 16th century A similarity between some of the patterns on the Topkapi Scroll and a tile panel in the Jame e Kabir Mosque grand mosque in Yazd indicates that this scroll was created in Tabriz On the other hand it is possible that the scroll was made in Shiraz because it consists of mainly muqarnas in the form of a hand held fan referred by Jamshid al Kashi as Shirazi It may have been looted by the Ottomans after the Ottoman Safavid War 1578 90 The muqarnas on the scroll which are mostly in the form of a hand held fan reflect the architectural style of the Timurid dynasty Turkmen people in Iran and Central Asia In contrast the muqarnas in Cairo are in the form of seashell The Topkapi Scroll was discovered in 1986 Gulru Necipoglu of Harvard University published a book which describes the scroll with copies of its patterns 4 The book was translated into Persian language by Mihrdad Kayyumi Bidhind under the title Handasa va Tazyin dar Mi mari yi Islami Tomar i Topkapi Tahran Kitabkhana yi Milli yi Iran 1379 Content edit nbsp Quarter dome muqarnas in the form of a seashell top in the form of a radial hand held fan bottom The scroll consists of 114 geometric patterns drawn in ink and dye It displays decorative ornaments found on the walls and domes of structures built between the 10th and 16th century in the Timurid dynasty It was a guidebook for architectural designs seen in complex muqarnas girih mosaic panels and colorful tiles The scroll does not mention how those patterns are constructed and has no date or signature 2 The two dimensional figures make it unclear how they can be employed to three dimensional ornamental objects 5 6 One of the characteristics of the Topkapi Scroll is that it includes Arabic calligraphy called square or geometric Kufic This script type was seen for the first time in the state of Ilkhanate and it was presumably created in inspiration from Chinese characters in rectangular form 3 One of the patterns on the Topkapi Scroll which matches an existing architectural structure is the Kufic script drawn for banna i in which tiles are alternated with plain bricks to create geometric patterns over the surface of a wall Almost exactly the same of this pattern is found on the gate of a mosque in Varzaneh 2 nbsp Hexagon with Kufic scripts of six time Muhammad Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd Allah and three time Ali Ali ibn Abi Ṭalib in rotational symmetrySome of the patterns show the application of geometric principles to Islamic traditions For example the word Muhammad Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd Allah is repeated six times along the sides of the hexagon and the word Ali Ali ibn Abi Ṭalib three times in a rotating wise in the inner hexagon 7 One pattern on the scroll consists of nine pointed and eleven pointed geometric star figures and other one thirteen pointed and sixteen pointed geometric star figures In the Islamic art this sort of stars were developed by folding certain patterns along the sides of a square 8 Some of the drawings on the scroll are formed by overlapped patterns of different scales This feature is seen frequently in Islamic architecture Detailed patterns within an ornament appear when one gets closer to a building with figures which are difficult to perceive from the distance 1 References edit a b Cromwell P R 2009 The Search for Quasi Periodicity in Islamic 5 fold Ornament Mathematical Intelligencer 31 1 36 56 doi 10 1007 s00283 008 9018 6 S2CID 18284378 a b c Gulru Necipoglu 1992 Geometric Design in timurid Turkmen Architectural Practice Thoughts on a Recently Discovered Scroll and Its Late Gothic Parallels PDF E J Brill a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a work ignored help a b c Rogers J M 1997 Notes on a recent study of the Topkapi scroll a review article Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies University of London 60 3 433 439 doi 10 1017 s0041977x0003247x JSTOR 619536 S2CID 145620733 Gulru Necipoglu The Topkapi Scroll geometry and ornament in Islamic architecture Palace Museum Topkapi Library MS H 1956 xiii 395 pp Santa Monica CA Getty Center for the History of Art and the Humanities 1995 Artisans and Mathematicians in Medieval Islam The Topkapi Scroll Geometry and Ornament in Islamic Architecture by Gulru Necipoglu Review by George Saliba 1999 Journal of the American Oriental Society Vol 119 No 4 pp 637 645 1 van den Hoeven Saskia van der Veen Maartje Muqarnas Mathematics in Islamic Arts PDF Archived from the original PDF on 2013 09 27 Retrieved 2011 12 27 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Hacali Necefoglu Turkish Crystallografic Patterns From Ancient to Present PDF Retrieved 2011 12 30 Cromwell P R 2010 Islamic geometric designs from the Topkapi Scroll I unusual arrangements of stars Saudi Aramco World 4 2 73 85 doi 10 1080 17513470903311669 S2CID 122299743 External links editThe Topkapi Scroll Geometry and Ornament in Islamic Architecture Getty Animation of Girih pattern development on the Topkapi Scroll Peter J Lu and Paul J Steinhardt Decagonal and Quasicrystalline Tilings in Medieval Islamic Architecture Science 2007 Utrecht University Faculty of Science Department of Mathematics Seminar Mathematics in Islamic Arts 2010 Square Kufix script examples from the Topkapi Scroll nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Topkapi Scroll Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Topkapi Scroll amp oldid 1167930847, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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