Ottoman palace tents in 17. and 18. centuries

An effort has been made to reveal the impact of Turkish culture in the tent tradition which emerged through the effect of nomadic life. Today, in many places in Central Asia and in Anatolia, there are still people leading a nomadic life out of adherence to Ottoman traditions and for economic reasons. Different needs, living conditions and climates led to different types of tent. The life struggle in tent life created the necessity for these people to do their work themselves, and their passion for freedom and their creativity resulted in the formation of their own arts. The tent had an important place in the areas of culture, art and architecture extending from China to Anatolia, from Anatolia to Europe. The types of tent formed in Anatolia through the tent tradition are the following: the "Alaçık-Çatma" house, the "yurt" or the tent with felt cover, the round house, the black tent, the conical tent, the tent with full ropes, the tent with half ropes, the umbrella tent, the commander's tent and the cradle tent... The types of palace tent from the Ottoman period are the Imperial Tent, the Vizier's Tent, the Privacy Tent, the "Zokaklu" Tent, the Treasury Tent, the "Kurba" Tent, the Hospital Tent, the Pantry Tent, the Saddlery Tent, the Kitchen Tent, the Suffering Tent and the various types of tents for soldiers... In the Ottoman period, palace tents of the "yurt" type were used in the beginning, followed by tents with several poles and fabric cover. The Sultan and Pasha tents had ropes while the commander's and cradle tents were black tents with poles. They were covered on the outside with silver-gilded atlas and silk fabrics, using different fabrics on the inside and outside. The techniques and patterns in decorations reached superior levels, and the motifs, colours and compositions displayed similarity to the decorative arts of the period to which they belong. The effect of Western culture was also observed in Ottoman palace tents. Plain colours, subjects, techniques and patterns are observed in the tent decorations and textiles of the seventeenth century while it is noted that towards the end of the century, the colours multiplied, the types and qualities of material changed, and the patterns were applied in a manner far from the original plainness, through the influence of European art. In the eighteenth century, the Western influence continued and the patterns and motifs were applied in a complex fashion. In the nineteenth century, Baroque and Rococo-style tent decorations are noted. İngilizce Anahtar Kelimeler: 1- Tent 2- Art of Tent 3- Ottoman Palace Tent 4-A Group of Nomads 5- Nomad