Talismanic Devices and Imbuements on Islamic Arms

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

The book on Suleyman The Magnificent has further illustrations in its vast volume including furniture< Koran holders< arrow quivers and a great historical account of The Ottoman Empire.

In Ottoman traditional designs we see a changing or morphing style perhaps magnified through the many different schools of design through centres of excellence, royal court workshops and different trades such as woodwork, calligraphy, textiles, carpet weaving, ceramics, armour makers and weapons workshops to name a few. here below are some further examples below. including impressions on coinage, various costumes and black and white sketches from old Turkish carpet design showing variety in the way the Cintimani was interpreted.

Note how the dots may change to diamond shapes or reflect moons and the animal stripe can float as a cloud design especially on carpets.
Generally Cintimani can be reflected by artisans using both dots and stripes or separately and the meaning can evolve from the Turkik tribal 3 way understanding of Sun... Sky... Fire... to a religious triple and perhaps finally to the all encompassing sign of the religion itself thus the Talisman meaning; of Islam; the overall protector.