Treasures From Turkey

From Kim:

Prevalent throughout the Harem at Topkapi Palace in Istanbul are the exquisite tiles - these are certainly treasures from Turkey too.  While it's a considerable investment to tile walls or floors, one can capture the beauty of these patterns in a very different medium with the pillows above. Typically, tile patterns are stylized versions of leaves and flowers. Carnations, rose, hyacinth, pomegranate, lotus and cypress trees are prevalent but perhaps the favorite motif is the tulip. The introduction of tulips to Europe is attributed to Ogier Ghiselin de Busbecq, the ambassador of the Holy Roman Empire to Suleiman the Magnificent, sultan of the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century. The exotic flower quickly became a symbol of cultivated luxury and a status symbol. This adoration and an economy based on the bulbs created "Tulipmania" , explored in the soon to be released Tulip Fever starring Judi Dench, Cara Delevingne and Cressida Bonas.