Gülrüh was Beyazit II’s wife and mother of Alemshah, she died in 1502.

The wooden doors are original; they are fine examples of early-16th century ‘kündekari’ woodwork: pieces of different sizes are worked separately, and then assembled (like a big jigsaw puzzle), without using any glue, split pin or nail. This technique is extremely difficult.
It was used in Egypt, Syria and Anatolia from the 11th century on, and became a major art form in Seljuk and late-Seljuk times (13th-15th century). During the Ottoman period, the technique was gradually abandoned and replaced by carving larger panels and the more luxurious marquetry, with inlays of ivory, tortoise-shell and mother-of-pearl.

Correspondent: J.M.Criel, Antwerpen.
Sources: ‘Vakıf Abideler ve eski Eserler III’ - Vakıflar Genel Müdürlüğü, Ankara 1983
& ‘Islamic Architecture: Ottoman Turkey’ (Godfrey Goodwin) – London 1977 .