Examples of Bookbindings from the Reign of Sultan Qaytbay (872-901/1468-1496)

Betül Şahin

Makale detayları

Examples of Bookbindings from the Reign of Sultan Qaytbay (872-901/1468-1496)

Yazarlar:

Betül Şahin

Yayıncı:

Eskişehir Osmangazi University

Ana Başlıklar:

İslam Sanatları

Dergi:

Eskişehir Osmangazi Üniversitesi İlahiyat Fakültesi Dergisi Vol.12 Issue 2, pp.849-874

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

9/2025

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001357958

pISSN:

2147-8171

Anahtar kelimeler:

Özet:

 The Mamluks, one of the greatest Islamic states of the Middle Ages, were a Turkish dynasty that ruled Egypt, Syria, and the Hejaz between 1250 and 1517. The Mamluk state, which remained on the stage of history for over two and a half centuries, saw the rise of powerful sultans known for their military and political achievements. One such ruler was Sultan Qaytbay, who reigned for nearly thirty years and is considered the greatest sultan of the Burji period. His reign 872901 AH  14681496 CE is regarded as the Mamluk states last relatively prosperous period. Sources describe Qaytbay as a just, devout, courageous, and farsighted ruler. In addition to being one of the most important sultans in Mamluk history, he significantly contributed to elevating his era culturally and artistically through his patronage of the arts and architecture. In cities such as Cairo, as well as other centers like Jerusalem, Mecca, and Medina, he commissioned the construction of madrasas, mosques, mausoleums, and libraries, greatly contributing to the development of many aspects of Mamluk art. In this context, the book arts also flourished, with high-quality works produced especially in the field of bookbinding. However, the research on these unique works has been surprisingly limited. The existing research tends to offer general information about Mamluk bookbinding and does not specifically focus on bindings from Qaytbays reign. This study aims to analyze the motif and composition characteristics of bookbindings from the reign of Sultan Qaytbay and, through this analysis, to reveal the general character of the period. For this purpose, manuscript works housed in the Süleymaniye Library were examined. As a result of this examination, four worksdated entirely to the reign of Qaytbaywere identified in the Süleymaniye Librarys inventory. Of these four manuscripts, three belong to the Ayasofya Collection and one to the Fatih Collection. In selecting these works, attention was given to ensuring that the bindings allowed for motif and composition analysis and that they reflected the richness of the period. These bindings were examined in terms of form, composition, technique, and ornamentation. All the bindings studied are made of leather; three are in various shades of brown, and one is in a cherry red color. Made of leather, three of the bindings are brown, while one is in a cherry-red hue. All examples include flap mikleb closures and are decorated muzayyan. The front and back covers share the same decorative characteristics, often featuring at least two rows of interlaced border zencirek patterns. The cornerpieces are distinct in design, while the central medallions shamsa appear in oval, circular, and almond mekik forms. A characteristic blue outline tahrir, commonly seen in 15th-century Mamluk bindings, is also present in these examplesused around the shamsa, cornerpieces, and border. Delicate decoration adorns the fore-edges sertab, and the flap areas receive the same level of attention. This attention to detail extends to the inner covers. In two of the examined examples, the inner covers are also leather-bound and decorated, while the other two have later additions covered in fabric. It was also determined that a significant amount of gold was used in the decoration of these bindings, symbolizing the richness of the period. This study, supported by visual documentation, is supplemented with comparisons made with other bindings from the Qaytbay period housed in various museum and library collections. These comparisons show that the bindings from Qaytbays reign served to protect books and conveyed the aesthetic taste, technical knowledge, and artistic understanding of the Mamluk period to the present day. The bindings studied, which hold a special place in the history of Islamic bookbinding, shed light on the developmental process of Mamluk art and offer modern researchers the opportunity to conduct in-depth studies in this field.

 The Mamluks, one of the greatest Islamic states of the Middle Ages, were a Turkish dynasty that ruled Egypt, Syria, and the Hejaz between 1250 and 1517. The Mamluk state, which remained on the stage of history for over two and a half centuries, saw the rise of powerful sultans known for their military and political achievements. One such ruler was Sultan Qaytbay, who reigned for nearly thirty years and is considered the greatest sultan of the Burji period. His reign 872901 AH  14681496 CE is regarded as the Mamluk states last relatively prosperous period. Sources describe Qaytbay as a just, devout, courageous, and farsighted ruler. In addition to being one of the most important sultans in Mamluk history, he significantly contributed to elevating his era culturally and artistically through his patronage of the arts and architecture. In cities such as Cairo, as well as other centers like Jerusalem, Mecca, and Medina, he commissioned the construction of madrasas, mosques, mausoleums, and libraries, greatly contributing to the development of many aspects of Mamluk art. In this context, the book arts also flourished, with high-quality works produced especially in the field of bookbinding. However, the research on these unique works has been surprisingly limited. The existing research tends to offer general information about Mamluk bookbinding and does not specifically focus on bindings from Qaytbays reign. This study aims to analyze the motif and composition characteristics of bookbindings from the reign of Sultan Qaytbay and, through this analysis, to reveal the general character of the period. For this purpose, manuscript works housed in the Süleymaniye Library were examined. As a result of this examination, four worksdated entirely to the reign of Qaytbaywere identified in the Süleymaniye Librarys inventory. Of these four manuscripts, three belong to the Ayasofya Collection and one to the Fatih Collection. In selecting these works, attention was given to ensuring that the bindings allowed for motif and composition analysis and that they reflected the richness of the period. These bindings were examined in terms of form, composition, technique, and ornamentation. All the bindings studied are made of leather; three are in various shades of brown, and one is in a cherry red color. Made of leather, three of the bindings are brown, while one is in a cherry-red hue. All examples include flap mikleb closures and are decorated muzayyan. The front and back covers share the same decorative characteristics, often featuring at least two rows of interlaced border zencirek patterns. The cornerpieces are distinct in design, while the central medallions shamsa appear in oval, circular, and almond mekik forms. A characteristic blue outline tahrir, commonly seen in 15th-century Mamluk bindings, is also present in these examplesused around the shamsa, cornerpieces, and border. Delicate decoration adorns the fore-edges sertab, and the flap areas receive the same level of attention. This attention to detail extends to the inner covers. In two of the examined examples, the inner covers are also leather-bound and decorated, while the other two have later additions covered in fabric. It was also determined that a significant amount of gold was used in the decoration of these bindings, symbolizing the richness of the period. This study, supported by visual documentation, is supplemented with comparisons made with other bindings from the Qaytbay period housed in various museum and library collections. These comparisons show that the bindings from Qaytbays reign served to protect books and conveyed the aesthetic taste, technical knowledge, and artistic understanding of the Mamluk period to the present day. The bindings studied, which hold a special place in the history of Islamic bookbinding, shed light on the developmental process of Mamluk art and offer modern researchers the opportunity to conduct in-depth studies in this field.

 The Mamluks, one of the greatest Islamic states of the Middle Ages, were a Turkish dynasty that ruled Egypt, Syria, and the Hejaz between 1250 and 1517. The Mamluk state, which remained on the stage of history for over two and a half centuries, saw the rise of powerful sultans known for their military and political achievements. One such ruler was Sultan Qaytbay, who reigned for nearly thirty years and is considered the greatest sultan of the Burji period. His reign 872901 AH  14681496 CE is regarded as the Mamluk states last relatively prosperous period. Sources describe Qaytbay as a just, devout, courageous, and farsighted ruler. In addition to being one of the most important sultans in Mamluk history, he significantly contributed to elevating his era culturally and artistically through his patronage of the arts and architecture. In cities such as Cairo, as well as other centers like Jerusalem, Mecca, and Medina, he commissioned the construction of madrasas, mosques, mausoleums, and libraries, greatly contributing to the development of many aspects of Mamluk art. In this context, the book arts also flourished, with high-quality works produced especially in the field of bookbinding. However, the research on these unique works has been surprisingly limited. The existing research tends to offer general information about Mamluk bookbinding and does not specifically focus on bindings from Qaytbays reign. This study aims to analyze the motif and composition characteristics of bookbindings from the reign of Sultan Qaytbay and, through this analysis, to reveal the general character of the period. For this purpose, manuscript works housed in the Süleymaniye Library were examined. As a result of this examination, four worksdated entirely to the reign of Qaytbaywere identified in the Süleymaniye Librarys inventory. Of these four manuscripts, three belong to the Ayasofya Collection and one to the Fatih Collection. In selecting these works, attention was given to ensuring that the bindings allowed for motif and composition analysis and that they reflected the richness of the period. These bindings were examined in terms of form, composition, technique, and ornamentation. All the bindings studied are made of leather; three are in various shades of brown, and one is in a cherry red color. Made of leather, three of the bindings are brown, while one is in a cherry-red hue. All examples include flap mikleb closures and are decorated muzayyan. The front and back covers share the same decorative characteristics, often featuring at least two rows of interlaced border zencirek patterns. The cornerpieces are distinct in design, while the central medallions shamsa appear in oval, circular, and almond mekik forms. A characteristic blue outline tahrir, commonly seen in 15th-century Mamluk bindings, is also present in these examplesused around the shamsa, cornerpieces, and border. Delicate decoration adorns the fore-edges sertab, and the flap areas receive the same level of attention. This attention to detail extends to the inner covers. In two of the examined examples, the inner covers are also leather-bound and decorated, while the other two have later additions covered in fabric. It was also determined that a significant amount of gold was used in the decoration of these bindings, symbolizing the richness of the period. This study, supported by visual documentation, is supplemented with comparisons made with other bindings from the Qaytbay period housed in various museum and library collections. These comparisons show that the bindings from Qaytbays reign served to protect books and conveyed the aesthetic taste, technical knowledge, and artistic understanding of the Mamluk period to the present day. The bindings studied, which hold a special place in the history of Islamic bookbinding, shed light on the developmental process of Mamluk art and offer modern researchers the opportunity to conduct in-depth studies in this field.

 Orta çağın en büyük İslâm devletlerinden biri olan Memlûkler 1250-1517 yılları arasında Mısır, Suriye ve Hicazda hüküm sürmüş bir Türk devletidir. İki buçuk asırdan fazla tarih sahnesinde kalan Memlûklerde askeri ve siyasi zaferlerle adından söz ettiren güçlü sultanlar tahta çıkmıştır. Bu sultanlardan biri de yaklaşık otuz yıl tahtta kalan ve Burcî döneminin en büyük sultanı kabul edilen Kayıtbaydır. Onun saltanatı 872-901 1468-1496 Memlûk devletinin müreffeh sayılabilecek son dönemidir. Kaynaklarda adil, dindar, cesur ve ileri görüşlü bir sultan olarak nitelendirilen Kayıtbay, Memlûk tarihinin en önemli sultanlarından biri olmasının yanı sıra, sanat ve mimariye verdiği büyük destekle, dönemini kültürel ve sanatsal açıdan zirveye taşımıştır. Kahire başta olmak üzere çeşitli merkezlerde Kudüs, Mekke, Medine inşa ettirdiği medreseler, camiler, türbeler ve kütüphanelerle, Memlûk sanatının pek çok yönünün gelişmesine katkı sağlamıştır. Bu bağlamda kitap sanatları da büyük gelişme göstermiş, özellikle cild alanında yüksek nitelikli eserler ortaya konmuştur. Ancak üretilen bu eşsiz eserler hakkında yapılan çok az sayıda çalışma mevcuttur. Mevcut çalışmalarda ise Memlûk cild sanatı hakkında genel bilgiler sunulmuş olup Kayıtbay dönemi cildleri detaylı olarak ele alınmamıştır. Bu çalışmayla Sultan Kayıtbay dönemine ait cildlerin motif ve kompozisyon özelliklerinin tahlil edilmesi ve bu tahlil sonucunda dönemin genel karakterinin ortaya konulması amaçlanmıştır. Bu amaç doğrultusunda Süleymaniye Yazma Eser Kütüphanesinde bulunan yazma eserler incelenmiştir. Bu inceleme sonucunda Süleymaniye Yazma Eser Kütüphanesi envanterine kayıtlı olan ve tamamı Kayıtbay dönemine tarihlenen dört adet eser tespit edilmiştir. Araştırmada kullanılan dört eserden üç tanesi Ayasofya Koleksiyonunda, bir tanesi ise Fatih Koleksiyonunda bulunmaktadır. Bu eserlerin seçiminde cildlerin hem motif-kompozisyon tahliline imkân tanımasına hem de dönemin zenginliğini yansıtacak düzeyde olmasına dikkat edilmiştir. Çalışmada kullanılan bu cildler form, kompozisyon, teknik ve süsleme bakımından incelenmiştir. İncelenen cildlerin hepsi deri olup, üçünde kahverenginin tonları bir tanesinde ise vişne rengi tercih edilmiştir. Örnekler miklebli olup müzeyyendir. Ön ve arka kapakların aynı karakterde olduğu cildlerde en az iki sıra zencirek-bordürle karşılaşılmaktadır. Köşebentleri de farklı tasarlanan cildlerin şemseleri oval, yuvarlak ve mekik formundadır. XV. yüzyıl Memlûk cildlerinde karşılaşılan mavi tahrir, incelenen bu örneklerde de mevcuttur. Bu mavi tahrir zencirek, köşebent ve şemse etrafında kullanılmıştır. Sertabların bezendiği örneklerin miklebleri de yine aynı özenle süslenmiştir. Bu özen iç kapaklarda da devam etmiştir. Makalemizin konusuna esas teşkil eden cildlerden iki tanesinde iç kapaklar da deriyle kaplanmıştır. İtinayla bezenen bu iç kapaklardan birinde katı tekniği kullanılmıştır. Diğer iki kapaksa muhdes olup kumaşla kaplanmıştır. Dönemin zenginliğini de simgeleyen bu cildlerin tezyînâtında bol miktarda altın kullanıldığı tespit edilmiştir. Görsellerle desteklenen çalışma diğer müze-kütüphanelerde bulunan ve Kayıtbay dönemine tarihlenen cildlerle yapılan kıyaslamalarla tamamlanmıştır. Bu karşılaştırmalar Kayıtbay devri cildlerinin, sadece kitapları korumakla kalmadığını aynı zamanda Memlûk döneminin estetik zevkini, teknik birikimini ve sanat anlayışını günümüze taşıdığını da göstermektedir. İslam cild sanatı içerisinde özel bir yer tutan ve çalışmaya konu olan mevcut eserler, hem Memlûk sanatının gelişim sürecine ışık tutmakta, hem de günümüz araştırmacılarına bu alanda derinlikli incelemeler yapma imkânı sunmaktadır.

Makale detayları

Examples of Bookbindings from the Reign of Sultan Qaytbay (872-901/1468-1496)

Yazarlar:

Betül Şahin

Yayıncı:

Eskişehir Osmangazi University

Ana Başlıklar:

İslam Sanatları

Dergi:

Eskişehir Osmangazi Üniversitesi İlahiyat Fakültesi Dergisi Vol.12 Issue 2, pp.849-874

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

9/2025

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001357958

pISSN:

2147-8171

History of Turkish-Islamic Arts

Mamluk

Sultan

Qaytbay

Süleymaniye

Manuscript

Bookbinding

DecorationTürk-İslam Sanatları Tarihi

Memluk

Sultan

Kayıtbay

Süleymaniye

Yazma Eser

Cild

Bezeme

Sayı

Makale detayları

Yazarlar: Betül Şahin

Yayıncı: Eskişehir Osmangazi University

Ana Başlıklar: İslam Sanatları

Dergi: Eskişehir Osmangazi Üniversitesi İlahiyat Fakültesi Dergisi Vol.12 Issue 2, pp.849-874

Belge Tipi: Makale

Yayın Tarihi: 9/2025

Belge Dili: Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.): 2001357958

pISSN: 2147-8171

Sayı

Yazarlar:

Betül Şahin

Yayıncı:

Eskişehir Osmangazi University

Ana Başlıklar:

İslam Sanatları

Dergi:

Eskişehir Osmangazi Üniversitesi İlahiyat Fakültesi Dergisi Vol.12 Issue 2, pp.849-874

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

9/2025

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001357958

pISSN:

2147-8171