Anatolia (Ottoman) · Plant motifs
Sümbül (hyacinth)
The beloved’s hair in İznik tiles: with tulip, rose and carnation.
What does it mean?
From the first quarter of the 16th century the hyacinth is one of the most frequent flowers of the semi-naturalistic “şükûfe” style in Ottoman tiles; with the tulip, rose, carnation and spring blossom, each is drawn recognisably on its own stem and leaves. In İznik panels it grows with tulips and irises at the foot of cypress-and-vine compositions. In classical Ottoman poetry the hyacinth is usually compared to the beloved’s hair [1]. In Kara Fazlî’s allegorical poem “Gül ü Bülbül” (1553), Hyacinth is a character who personifies envy [2].
Same theme
Sources
Drawing: Bitki Tabanı, interpreted from the traditional motif.