Authentic Turkish Designs / Azade Akar

“This handsome book, incorporating over 250 bold black-and-white illustrations – all copyright free—offers graphic artists, students and those interested in design and the decorative arts a unique opportunity to study, enjoy and analyze characteristics of elements of authentic Turkish design. Plant motifs are abundant, as are those featuring animals and birds of myth and legend, from dragons to harpies. Here, too, are exotic rumi, interlacements of design elements incorporating features of animals. Chain patterns, geometrical and symbolic motifs, and architectural forms, stylized suns and moons, rosettes and borders, calligraphic lettering and Turkish adaptations of rococo are among other types of design represented. The historic sources for these designs range from a ceiling decoration in a sultan’s throne room and stone carvings from the Seljuk monuments in Sivas to rug designs from the Alaadin Mosuqe in Konya and floral bouquets painted on lacquered wooden panels in the dining room of the Topkapi Palace harem.” - back matter