Belt Ornament
[Istanbul, circa1500 – Ottoman]



Throughout the 14th and 15th centuries Ottoman decorative motifs followed trends that were apparent elsewhere in the Islamic world.  Timurid style which predominated in the 15th century, was the most important source of inspiration for many Islamic countries, as well as the Ottomans.  In the 15th century two main styles in the Ottoman decorative language were rumi and hatayi, which were also key features of Timurid style.  Rumi decoration consisting of scrolling branches and two dimensional leaves or split palmettes, can be traced back to Byzantine, pre-Islamic and Islamic art of the Near East.  Although the shape of the leaves altered with changing tastes, this is probably the most conservative and traditional mode of decoration used by Ottoman artists.  The design on the belt ornament pictured is of the rumi style and is made of colored and gilded ivory.