CALLIGRAPHY

Calligraphy is the art of artistic writing. In the art of calligraphy, letters and words are written in a certain harmony. Words written in such harmony create an aesthetic and pleasant work to look at. Calligraphy is the art of transferring words in artistic forms to paper within the framework of certain rules.

There are different types of calligraphy depending on the geography and culture where it is made. There are varieties such as Japanese calligraphy, European calligraphy, Turkish calligraphy.

 

COPPERSMITHING

Copper, which has an important place in the life of the Anatolian people, was processed by forging, plastering, casting (melting), pressing techniques; it was made convenient/useful/suitable for use with decoration and ornamentation. it has been used in daily life as pots and pans (trays, pitchers, coffee pots, churns,buckets, lenger, tankard etc.), in ornamental jewelry with many figures, in architectural structures (doors, door decorations), in decorative objects, helmets and in many through alloys it can form with other metals The art of coppersmithing is preserved today through the craftsmanship of masters and is used in many areas of life.

 

FELTING

The felt, which has an ancient and deep-rooted history, has reached us today by being passed down through thousands of years of traditions from the Huns to the Göktürks, from the Seljuks to the Ottomans.

Felt is a coarse fabric obtained by simply beating natural wool without any weaving. Felt, which was used in daily life in the past such as tent coverings, kepenek, floor coverings, clothing items, and items for carrying, has a wide range of uses today, including accessories and artistic works. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HOT GLASS ART

In the hot glass workshop, glass material, which can reach up to 1200°C in its melted state, is shaped with metal or wooden tools. This characteristic of molten glass, which becomes fluid, enables the realisation of three-dimensional sculptures, functional products, extraordinary forms, architectural decoration, lighting designs or artistic productions in different forms. The establishment of the first glass workshop dates back to the time of Selim III (1789-1807) in the Ottoman period. The other name of hot glass workshop is glass blowing workshop. Glass processing methods have forced new techniques and glass has become more and more important. The importance of glass art with the works revealed by glass masters is increasing day by day.

 

LEFKARA ART

Lefkara, an art of embroidery unique to the Northern Cyprus is a combination of lace and the embroidery made 

by the local people. Lefkara Embroidery consists of geometric and historical motifs and only two colors of thread, white and green (ecru), are used in its production. Lefkara Embroidery takes place as an important part of dowries and home decoration. These embroideries are used to make tablecloths, bedspreads, curtain ornaments and apparel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MAKING PRAYER BEADS FROM OLIVE SEEDS

Prayer beads are rings of a certain number of beads strung on a string to count repetitive actions. They are made of various metals and materials and are named by the type of material used. In addition to various stones, horns, amber, bone, teeth, mother of pearl, bark, glass, some fruit seeds and trees are also used in beads manufacturing. For olive seed beads, the seeds of olives obtained from the wild olive trees are used. After the olive seeds are thoroughly washed, they are left to dry for several days. When the seeds are dry enough, they are polished with the help of a sandpaper and drilled right through the middle with a piercing agent. Then, the seeds are strung on a string. In prayer beads making, the beads can be decorated with pencil carvings or precious stones and metals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MARBLING

Marbling is a traditional art form that uses unique techniques and colours to transfer patterns formed on the surface of water in a tray onto paper. The materials for paper Marbling are the marbling tray, water thickened with gum tragacanth, paint prepared with cattle gall, and paper. In addition, the „battal marbling” there are many types of Marbling such as: gelgit, taraklı, bülbülyuvası, kumlu kılıçlı, and double Marbling.

The art of Marbling, an important element of ancient Turkish culture, was registered in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity Representative List on 27 November 2014 under the name ‘Ebru, Turkish Paper Ornamental Art’ on 27 November 2014.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MIDDLE PLAY AND PUPPET

Middle play is a type of improvisational game played with live actors in a square surrounded by the audience, without adhering to a written text around a certain subject. Although the game is mostly based on words, it also includes actions and bearings.

The puppet, one of the oldest forms of theatrical plays, is known by names such as korçak, kudurcuk, kaburcuk, koğurcak, kaurcak, lubet, etc., which mean „baby” in Turkish and are still used in Anatolia today. The play, which is performed in many Turkish tribes using their own simple technique and known as puppet in Turkish cities since the 17th century, is widespread among the villagers in Anatolia with names such as ‘beb, çömce gelin, karaçör’. Taking its subjects from the daily life, Puppet is a movement and shadow play which has been performed since 14th century.

 

NEEDLE LACE

Needle lace is a type of knitting and embroidery done with colorful silk or cotton thread for decorative purposes on the edges of headscarves and handkerchiefs, as well as on the fronts, collars, sleeves, and hems of garments. Depending on the tools used, there are various types of lace, such as shuttle lace, crochet lace, needle lace, and hairpin lace; and depending on the materials used, there are types like wax lace, bead lace, tassel lace, cocoon lace, and scrap lace.

Girls typically learn the art of lace-making from their families and close circles at a young age. Lacework is often found in their dowries. This handcrafted art, known for its delicate workmanship, colors, and motifs, continues to attract interest. Its uses range from bedding, table, and coffee table sets to accessories on clothing, encompassing a wide variety of applications.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE MAKING OF YEMENI

Yemeni is a heel-less and very healthy shoe with a red or black leather upper and a leather sole. Yemeni mainly consists of two parts, the gön and the face. Features of yemeni; It does not cause foot odor, it allows sweat to evaporate, and it discharges the body’s static electricity into the ground, providing relaxation.   

Leather and leather products have a special place in Turkish handicrafts with a history of thousands of years. Leather processing and the use of processed leather in many areas of daily life began as a way of making one’s own belongings for people moving from nomadic life to a more sedentary lifestyle. The richest examples of leather making are found in the Seljuk and Ottoman periods.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TILE ART

Tile (çini), the traditional Turkish art, reached its peak with the İznik tiles in the 16th century and were mostly used for interior and exterior decoration purposes for architectural structures such as mosques, pavilions, palaces, fountains, and thrines. In tile making,quartz, glass powder, and clay are used. These ingredients are baked, ground, shaped into a dough, and finally baked in the oven after various stages. The art of tile-making is divided into two categories: wall tiles (Kaşi) and utility ceramics (Evani). The main types of utility ceramics include plates, vases, mugs, bowls, pitchers, glasses, and similar items.

„Traditional Tile Mastery,” an important element of ancient Turkish culture, has been inscribed on UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity Representative List on behalf of Türkiye.

 

TRADITIONAL TURKISH DOLLS

The Anatolian woman having multi-colored garment, also reflected the colorfulness in their clothes on the dolls they made. The headdress and the way the headdress is tied, apron, shalwar, shalwar, three skirts, underwear, knitted socks and accessories show the general characteristics of the region. The most famous dolls that reflect the women’s clothing of the region in which they are made in Türkiye are the Kayseri-Soğanlı doll, the Ardahan-Damal doll, the Muğla-Milas-Çomakdağ doll and the Tokat-Nebiköy doll.

 

 

 

WEAVING TRADITION

Weaving encompasses all kinds of fabric, knitting, upholstery, carpets, rugs, zili, cicim, felt, belts, etc., produced by turning fibers into thread, or by applying different methods of binding fibers together. The raw materials for traditional Turkish weaving includes wool, mohair, cotton, goat hair, and silk. The are 3 types of weaving techniques which are shuttle weaving, kirkit (a type of comb) weaving, and shuttle-less weaving. Usually, the process is done on looms made of wood or iron. Weaving is an ancient handicraft in Anatolia, serving as a source of livelihood in many regions and continuing to do so today.

 

WOODEN TOY MAKING

Anatolian folk toys are usually made of natural materials with simple techniques. For children, wheels are usually made by cutting round pieces. Then, large construction nails or wires are passed between these wheels to make cars. In addition to vehicles, there are toys such as sling, arrow-bow, spindle, cradle, rattle and similar sounding ones among the wooden toys. The toys, which are considered to be the first registered toys of Türkiye and known as ‘Eyüp Toys’ due to their origin in the Eyüp district of Istanbul, were generally made of wood. These toys, which date back to the 17th century and are also mentioned in Evliya Çelebi’s famous Seyahatname, include wooden cradles, sultan boats, cars with birds and mirrors, and miniature household items such as cabinets, chairs and stools made for girls.