The tiles stolen from Adana Great Mosque 19 years ago came from the Netherlands

The sixteenth century tiles, which have been put up on the market at the ‘Islamic Artwork Public sale’ public sale held by the Oriental Artwork Auctions Public sale Home in the Netherlands on June 4, 2020, attracted the consideration of consultants from the Ministry of Tradition and Tourism, Common Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums.

Consultants decided that the tile tiles bought in tons 201 and 205 in the public sale catalog and the tile panel bought in lot quantity 204 have been stolen.

STOLEN 19 YEARS AGO FROM ADANA GREAT MOSQUE

In the detailed examination, it was decided that the tiles and the panel have been stolen throughout the restoration 19 years ago from the (*19*) Great Mosque.

In the public sale named ‘IslamicandAsian Artwork’ held at the identical public sale home on October 20, 2020, the tile tile supplied on the market with lot quantity 113 was additionally examined.

ARTICLES FROM THE 11TH AND 13TH CENTURIES

In the detailed analysis, it was decided that the tile tile was in the type of a star, which may be seen in the buildings belonging to the Anatolian Seljuk interval, from the finish of the eleventh century to the starting of the thirteenth century, and comparable examples of this tile have been present in archaeological excavations in Konya.

IT HAS BEEN PROVEN TO BE ANATOLIAN ORIGIN

The Ministry of Inner Affairs, Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime Department Directorate and the Ministry of Overseas Affairs made an try to return the tiles printed in the ‘Stolen Artworks Database’ by Interpol.

The public sale home was contacted instantly and proof was offered that the works have been illegally eliminated from Turkey. After months of negotiations, the proof offered to the public sale home proved that the works have been of Anatolian origin.

DELIVERED TO ETNOGRAPHY MUSEUM

The tiles have been voluntarily delivered to the Hague Embassy by the public sale home. After the procedures, the tiles have been delivered to Ankara by diplomatic cargo and delivered to the Ethnography Museum. It has been realized that some analyzes will likely be made with a view to decide the interval of the tiles with scientific information.

ADANA GREAT MOSQUE

The Great Mosque, which was began to be inbuilt 1509 in (*19*)’s central Seyhan district, was accomplished in 1541. The partitions of the mosque, which has the traits of Seljuk and Mamluk structure, are coated with black and white marble stones, and it has a west and east dealing with door.

It’s seen that the tiles on the partitions of the mosque, which dates from the sixteenth century and consists of darkish blue, turquoise and coral crimson colours on a white background, are embellished with plant motifs. The tiles, which have been made in Iznik and Kütahya and the place the most lovely examples of Ottoman tile artwork may be seen, additionally embody late interval tiles in pale and grey shade from the 18th century.