This panel representing Mecca is a 17th-century piece created during the Ottoman Empire. It serves as a significant representation of the architecture and religious customs of the time period, created by utilizing ceramic clay and traditional Islamic artistic techniques.
With dimensions of 2m x 1.5m, this large-scale panel was crafted from ceramic clay. Presently, a matured cream tone embodies the material as a result of aging.
The panel presents a stylized rendition of the Kaaba within the mosque, inclusive of associated structures such as minarets and gates. All structures are portrayed in a simplified yet identifiable form. A key detail is the careful representation of the Ottoman gallery, a feature specific only to the mosque's Ottoman period.
The background of the panel is emblazoned with precise geometric patterns, a noted feature of Islamic art, alluding to themes of order and unity. These accurate designs exhibit the skill level of the artist and their meticulous attention to detail. Additionally, the panel's borders are carefully inscribed with Quranic verses, using the elegant Thuluth script; a form of Arabic calligraphy recognized for its complex curvature and oblique letters.
