Architectural and Historical Importance

The development of the central commercial zone of Aleppo, Al-Mdine by Ottoman officials’ patronage of large complexes diminished in the 17th century and shifted to the suburbs. This was mainly because of the decline and re-centering of long-distance trade to Bursa and Izmir. [16] Though this trade gradually recovered in Aleppo in the second half of the 17th century, it lacked the intensity of the 16th century. This historic and urban context highlights the importance of Khan al-Wazir, as it was among the few monumental structures built in the central commercial zone during the 17th century. The size of the khan, its commercial role, as well as the richness of its architecture recalled the conventions of the 16^th-century complexes. On the other hand, the khan was the last of the large Ottoman constructions in this zone to be endowed by an imperial patron without family connections to Aleppo before local notables emerged as the major patrons in the 18th century.

Khan al-Wazir did not represent a major departure from other khans in Aleppo and of the Empire in terms of its basic conﬁguration. However, the quality of its workmanship distinguishes it from other khans as every detail is rendered exquisitely. Indeed, its elaborate facades feature many of the local building traditions, such as the extensive use of polychromic stones, the emphasis on the entrance facade and its composition and the presence of the Mamluk shields. The phenomenon that deserves consideration is that Khan al-Wazir uses the repertory of forms employed at Khan al-Jumruk, with the addition of feline imagery. Therefore, it constitutes the ultimate step of the process of “Ottomanization,” defined by Watenpaugh as the Ottoman appropriation of the city’s local architectural repertoire, especially the most recent Mamluk layer. [17] The Mamluk forms were taken out of their original references and contexts and recombined within new formulae. Moreover the fact that, unlike many other khans, Khan al-Wazir is a freestanding structure distinct from its surrounding commercial fabric enables an unobstructed view of its massive structure and remarkable entrance facade. This characteristic was accentuated after the demolition of the qaysariyya formerly in front of its entrance. Today, the khan with its lavish facade catches the eye immediately and, together with the facades of the neighbouring al-Madrasa al-Sahibiyya (1349) and al-Matbakh al-A’jami (dated to the 12^th century), creates an important urban landmark.

Enduring the urban interventions and functional changes, Khan al-Wazir has survived presenting the rich legacy of Aleppo’s accumulated urban and architectural practices. Although there is no information on its architect, the level of craftsmanship suggests the contribution of the province’s principal architect.

Footnotes

[16] For more details on the economic conditions in Aleppo during the 17th century and the decline of the long-distance trade, see Masters, The Origins of Western Economic Dominance, 18–30.

[17] Watenpaugh, The Image of an Ottoman City, 209