SANAT TARIHI DERGISI-JOURNAL OF ART HISTORY, vol.27, no.1, pp.35-51, 2018 (ESCI)
A large number of mould fragments, used in the moulded ware, were found during the Iznik Kiln Excavation. Mould findings, made from red hard paste, have thick and flat bases, depressed spherical/spheroid or conical bodies, and flat spouts. Only three example among the mould fragments found is excluded from this generalization. This mould piece, have a low foot and one mould slightly flaring edge. Diameters of the spouts, the bases and heights vary between 14 and 23,6 cm, 6 and 10 cm, and 5 and 9 cm, respectively. Like in body decorations, patterns on the interiors of moulds applied in the carved and pressed technique, consist of geometrical, intricate herbal and braided compositions. These mould fragments include examples that completely overlap with the patterns we see on body fragments. The mould fragment, which consists of four connecting pieces, strikes attention with its inscriptions. However, letters visible on the obtained fragments do not represent a meaningful word, which suggests the inscription may have been intended as a decoration. Aside from these, fluting moulds constitute a separate group. These fragments have similarities to the moulds used in non-Anatolian Islamic ceramics and in Anatolia.