In Ottoman tombstones, male tombstones are usually hooded, while female tombstones are cristate or hooded. Headgear types such as turban, quilted turban and fez are common in male tombstones. The fez, which has a flat top and generally tasseled, was made compulsory for the civilian population in 1829 with the II. Mahmut's clothing reform. The fez used by the public was also reflected on the tombstones and was used in the 19th-20th centuries prevalently. The fez, which had been used for nearly a century, had gained different shapes with the effect of various fashions by preserving the elements that reflect the institution and status being worked. According to the mold, there are different kinds of fez like aziziye, mecîdîye, zuhafe and daily. In this study, we evaluated a group of fez-hooded tombstones in Karacaahmet Cemetery in Istanbul. Due to the high number of historical tombstones in the Karacaahmet cemetery, we included 15 fez-shaped headstones from a group of tombstones that were identified with an inventory number of 12207-12508. While the earliest date of our samples was dated to 1830, our latest sample was dated to 1901. While 13 of the samples were sturdy, 2 of them were broken in different sizes. In 4 of the samples, there are plant and object decorations.The decorations are generally seen on the upper part of the epitaph, while in one sample it is embroidered in the kerb surrounding the epitaph. In this study, it is aimed to introduce these works in all aspects and to emphasize their importance in Turkish art.
Turkish Art, Ottoman Tombstones, Fez