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EDUCATION AND CULTURE / Handicrafts

TURKISH FOR FOREIGNERS

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ISTANBUL / GENERAL INFORMATION

Handicrafts

   Handicrafts have arisen from man's differing needs in regarding to various conditions. Handicrafts gained an artistic value according to different traditions, tasted and cultural elements in differents social structures. This is a part of a nation's work reflecting its original values.
Turkish handicrafts which meet various needs and which developed as a decorative art can be classified as follows:
   I- Carpets and related woven products:
Carpet weavingwhich has an important place in traditional Turkish handicrafts is a branch of art in which brilliant colours gain meaning and the intellect of society is describet.
   The fact that the oldest carpets were found in Central Asia illustrates that carpet weaving had its start Turkish tribes. The following areas in Anatolia are famous for their
carpets : Gördes, Milas, Bargama, Kula, Yagcıbedir, Bünyan Yahyalı, Döşemealtı, Taşpınar, Ladik, Hereke, Uşak and Sivas.
There are various types of carpets, too.
   II- Knitting and embroidery:
Examples af this art way be seen in the knitted socks, gloves, pullovers, crocket, work, and in embriodered purses, handkerchiefs, girls, napkins, towels etc.
Socks knitten of cotton, wool or mohair reflect the feelings and the social status of the knitter. This characteristic can easily be observed in the names of designs used such as, "kadın sırrı" ( woman's secret ), "aşkın gözyaşları" ( tear drops of love), "hasret" ( longing ), "sevinç" ( joy ).
   III-Fibre-Weaving :
In ancient times only sultans ordered the weaving of fibres for themselves or as a gift to another sultan. Thus, the weaving of fabric wqs under the monopoly of the sultans for many years.
This art was highly developed in the 16th century in regards to weaving, color and design techniques.
The colour mostly used in Turkish fabric was red. In addition, blue, green, black, write, yellow, and beige were used.

Turkish Carpet

IV- The printing or painting of fine fabric :
Turkish napkins are designed by hand or by using carved wooden blocks. The finest examples of Turkish napkins were produced in Istanbul during the seventeenth and the eighteenth centuries. The most valuable napkins are those made using brushes or pencils.
   In this type of napkin the design is first drawn on paper. Then it is copied on cloth. There are differents types of napkins:
napkins made with carved blocks and pencil, those made from blockprints and those using film.
Tokat, Bartın and Gaziantep napkins are famous for their aesthetic appearance.
   V- Spoon Work :
Wooden spoons were used in the 19th century before metal spoons and forks. Thus, spoon-making developed as an art.
   The first artists engaged in this art in Anatolia were "talebe-i Ulüm" ( students of science ). They were natives of Karaman and Konya and lived during the Seljuk period.
These students made a living by making spoons in their spare time.
Their good taste was reflected in their painting.
   VI- Precious and Semi-precious stonework :
"Meerschaum" of the Eskişehir region is used for making accessories such as necklaces, earrings and bracelets, because it is easy to carve.

"Hacıbektaş marble" of the Hacıbektaş town of Nevşehir is used for makings tables, stands, vases and various other articles.
Marbles of the Marmara Island, Central Anatolia, Sivas and Avanos, are used as building materials and in home decoration.
Gold and silver are worked by hand in the Eastern and Southeastern parts of Anatolia. The Oltu stone of Erzurum is worked with silver and gold and is made into jewellery.

Turkish Marble Works

Turkish Marble Works