Abstract:

The collection of ceramics and tiles at the Victoria & Albert Museum is one of the most comprehensive in the world, having been acquired in various ways from the Middle East, Asia and Europe. During the research conducted at the museum, it was determined that the traces of eleven tiles, which attract attention with their different sizes and compositions, have reached Diyarbakır buildings. Since the 16th century, when the city came under Ottoman rule, Diyarbakır has experienced a period of significant works of art. During this period, new construction activities as well as repairs to earlier buildings reflected the Ottoman imprint on the existing architectural texture. The aim of this study is to discuss whether the eleven tiles found in the warehouses of the Victoria & Albert Museum belong to Diyarbakır structures. A qualitative research method based on a descriptive model was used in this study. The archival documents of these tiles are summarized through text/document analysis. The tiles were compared with 16th century classical Iznik tiles. As a result of the investigations, similar tiles that are the subject of the article were found in the Tomb of the Companions, Nebi Mosque, Hüsrev Pasha Mosque, Behram Pasha Mosque and Melik Ahmet Mosque, and in the Armenian Catholic Church. Finally, the information about the way of some of the above-mentioned tiles came to the museum was obtained from the archive documents of the Victoria & Albert Museum and the records of the Islamic Arts Department. In this way, it has been clarified with documents how and by whom the mentioned tiles were removed from our country.

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