Koltuk Illumination in the Context of Some Samples from Shah Mahmud Nişâburî Album

Abstract

The arts of book are one of the most important elements in the formation of Turkish art. The works which are given in this field have been highly influential in terms of our art to reach from past to the present. Shah Mahmud Nişâburî album is shown as one of the most important examples of album production which is application area of book arts. In this album, which contains calligraphic kıt’as of Persian calligraphers, mostly of Shah Mahmud Nişâburî, illumination and binding in Ottoman palace studio, kıt’a forms’ extraordinary examples are gathered together. The variety of kıt’a forms in the album, which is both valuable and at the same time an advisor in terms of calligraphy and illumination, has provided the formation of koltuk areas in different sizes and shapes and this brought diversity in the design. In this article, some samples in Shah Mahmud Nişâburî album will be analyzed in terms of koltuk illumination.