Dictionary of Traditional Crafts

This document is a dictionary resource that will guide those who want to learn about traditional handicrafts that have an important place in Turkish culture. The terms are arranged in alphabetical order, with a new section for each letter. First, the terms are listed, then the techniques are listed in alphabetical order.

A

Abla (Honeybee) : A traditional pattern expressing one of the motifs, especially used in carpets and rugs.

Wood Marquetry : Decorative art made by embedding different materials (mother of pearl, ivory, metal) into wooden surfaces. It is used especially in furniture and decorative objects.

Wood Carving : Decorative art made by carving patterns or figures into wooden surfaces.

Wood Carving : The art of shaping wood into decorative or useful objects.

Alaca Weaving : A traditional fabric weaving method that combines threads of various colors.

Alaca Halı : A traditional type of carpet woven from various colored threads.

Antep Embroidery : A handicraft consisting of geometric patterns embroidered on fabric with needles.

Staff : A type of decorated walking stick used for support in traditional ceremonies or in daily use.

Lining : Fabric used to provide durability and a smooth appearance to the inside of garments.

Ayak İşi : Traditional Turkish rug woven by hand.

B

Copper : A metal used in the production of various kitchenware, ornaments and decorative objects. It is shaped by forging and processing techniques.

Bakraç : A single-handled water container or bowl made of copper, zinc, bronze or earthenware.

Coppersmithing : Making kitchenware, ornaments and decorative objects by hammering copper sheets. It is especially common in Gaziantep and Kahramanmaraş.

Bergama Carpet : Traditional carpet specific to the Bergama region.

White Tile : White glaze used in tile art.

Figurine : A small statue or ornament for decorative purposes, usually made of ceramic, glass or wood.

Bead Processing : Processing glass, plastic or natural stone beads and turning them into jewelry, accessories or decorative ornaments.

Buldan Cloth : Fine fabric, usually woven from cotton yarn, specific to the Buldan district of Denizli.

C

Glass Processing : Shaping melted glass into ornamental or usable items.

Cecim : Kilim is a type of weaving that is thinner and denser.

Cepken : A type of short, sleeveless vest, usually embroidered, from traditional Turkish clothing. It is used in folk dances and daily life.

Binding : The process of covering book covers with leather, fabric or paper.

Çarpana Weaving : Traditional type of weaving made with the help of wooden planks, generally used for girdles, belts and narrow weaving works.

Çevre İşi : Finely ornamented lacework done with needle or crochet on the edges of fabric. Generally used on dowry covers.

Tile making : The application of traditional motifs to ceramic surfaces using glaze and paint. Iznik and Kutahya are among the regions famous for tile production.

Pottery : The art of shaping clay into various containers, vases and ornaments. It is widespread in many regions of Anatolia.

Stick Kilim : A rug decorated with stick patterns and produced with a traditional weaving technique.

D

Lace : Fine knitting work made with needle or crochet hook.

Leather Workmanship : Craftsmanship made from leather, production of products such as leather clothing, bags, shoes.

Divit Craftsmanship : The art of crafting traditional inkwells and pencil cases.

Weaving : The process of turning threads into fabric by crossing them crosswise on a loom.

Dürü Bohçası : An ornamented bundle used to store or carry dowry items.

TO

Marbling : A branch of art in which colours are sprinkled on the surface of water and shaped onto paper.

Spinning (Yarn Spinning) : The process of turning wool or cotton fibers into yarn.

Artifacts : Objects or works of art or history that have cultural or artistic value and are usually exhibited in museums.

Ethnography : A branch of science that studies the traditional lifestyle, handicrafts, folklore and other cultural characteristics of a society.

Ethnographic Artifacts : Objects of historical and cultural importance that reflect traditional lifestyles, cultural values ​​and handicrafts.

F

Fez : Traditional Turkish men's headgear. Usually finished with a tassel on red felt.

Fehmi Weaving (False Hair Weaving) : A fine and shiny weaving technique in which silk threads are used extensively.

G

Göynek : Traditional Turkish shirt.

Shirt Embroidery : The art of embroidery on traditional Turkish shirts.

H

Carpet weaving : Production of carpets by weaving wool, cotton or silk threads on looms using the knotting method. Hereke, Kayseri and Isparta carpets are especially famous.

Counting Work : Embroidery done on fabric by counting. Usually applied in geometric patterns.

Saddlebag : A carrying bag with double-sided pockets, usually made of wool or cotton fabric.

I

Needle Lace : An elegant handicraft made with fine needle and thread, usually used on the edges of headscarves.

Silk : Fine, shiny thread and fabric obtained from the cocoon of the silkworm.

Embroidery : The art of decoration using gold, silver threads or glitter on fabric, leather or felt.

K

Kaftan : A long upper garment from traditional Turkish clothing, usually made of silk or velvet fabrics.

Spoon Making : Spoon production from wood or bone material. It is especially common in Anatolia as a souvenir and kitchen utensil.

Kalemişi : The art of decoration made with paint on wooden, stone or wall surfaces. The people who make these decorations are called "kalemkar" and the people who prepare the patterns are called "nakkaş".

Kalemzeni : An art in which motifs are drawn on the material to be processed, which is gold, silver, alloy and mostly copper, and then engraved with hammer strokes on the pen.

Cross-stitch : A type of embroidery done using the cross-stitch technique.

Canvas : A thick and durable type of fabric made from cotton or polyester yarns, generally used in painting. It is also used in rich textile products with woven surfaces.

Linen : Durable and breathable natural fiber obtained from the flax plant.

Clay : A single-handled water container or bowl made of copper, zinc, bronze or earthenware.

Kilim-making : The art of weaving rugs made from materials such as wool and cotton.

L

Meerschaum Processing : Art made by processing natural stone, which is extracted from Eskişehir and its surroundings and can be easily shaped due to its soft structure.

M

Makasa Sındı : Special scissors for fine cutting work, used in traditional textile or fabric work.

Makat Set : A seating arrangement used in traditional Turkish houses, with divans or cushions arranged in an orderly manner.

Shuttle Lace : An elegant type of lace made using a special shuttle. It is usually used on the edges of headscarves and in ornaments.

Mesh : Traditional type of shoe made of leather.

Museum : Places where objects of historical, cultural, artistic or scientific importance are exhibited and preserved.

Musical Instrument Making : Includes the making of traditional Turkish musical instruments. For example, instruments such as baglama, ney, oud, tambour are included in this category.

N

Embroidery : The art of decorating fabric or leather with needle and thread.

Nakkaşlık : The art of pattern processing used in traditional handwritten book decorations.

HE

Lace : A fine lace-style decorative art, usually done with a crochet hook or needle.

Carved Stone Work : The process of carving patterns or writings onto stone surfaces. It is especially seen on tombstones and historical architectural works.

HE

Ödemiş Silk : A fine and shiny type of silk specific to the Ödemiş district of İzmir.

P

Panama Linen : A type of linen known for its durable and lightweight texture, it is generally used in making hats and bags.

Peşgir : A type of cloth, usually cotton, used to dry hands and face or for kitchen purposes.

R

Dream Catcher : A decorative object usually made of string, beads and feathers, believed to catch bad dreams and allow good dreams.

Runner : A thin tablecloth that runs the length of the table and is usually used for decorative purposes.

S

Mother of Pearl Inlay : The art of decoration by embedding mother of pearl pieces into wooden surfaces.

Sofa Set: A furniture group used in the sitting areas of traditional Turkish houses, usually with a wooden frame and cushions.

Basketry : Making baskets, bags and other functional products by hand using wicker, cane, bamboo or other natural materials.

Samovar : Traditional metal vessel used for brewing tea and heating water.

Prayer rug : A fabric or carpet, usually patterned and embroidered, used for prayer.

Sim Sirma : Embroidery done with silver or gold threads.

Service plate : A decorative cover or product made of hard material used in table setting and placed under plates.

Susma İşi : A traditional sewing method enriched with gold or silver embroidery. It is especially used in decorating traditional clothes and covers.

Sumak : A special rug weaving technique produced especially in Anatolia, without making any loops between the warp threads.

S

Chassis : It is a cloth or fabric cover with embroidered or decorated edges, in which items such as towels and pajamas are usually placed. These covers are generally used in dowry preparations or for storing special items.

Şayak Weaving : A method of weaving durable fabric made from wool yarns.

T

Rosary : ​​An accessory used during prayer, usually consisting of 33 or 99 beads, made of wood, amber or precious stones.

Wire Breaking : It is a traditional embroidery art made by embroidering silver wire onto cloth with the help of a special needle without using scissors.

Wire Wrapping is a decorative art made by wrapping thin metal wires (usually gold or silver) on fabric or leather with the help of needles.

Filigree : Making ornaments or jewelry with fine lace-like details by twisting silver or gold wires. This art is concentrated in the Mardin and Midyat regions.

Terpoş : It is a traditional textile product made of silk or cotton fabric, usually used as a headscarf or bedspread.

Illumination : The art of decorating a book, document or paper surface with gold and colors. It was frequently used in handwritten books, especially during the Ottoman period.

Crochet : Knitting works made using crochet. It is widely preferred for headscarves, dowry covers and ornaments.

Cheesecloth : A finely woven fabric, usually made from cotton yarns, used as a headscarf.

Turkish Embroidery : A technique used in traditional Turkish embroidery arts, usually employing geometric or floral patterns.

U

Ubba: The name given to wooden boxes from the Ottoman period. It was generally used to store jewelry or valuables. It may have been decorated with fine carvings and mother-of-pearl inlays.

Ulufe: The term used for the purses or bundles, usually made of leather or fabric and decorated with embroidery, in which the salaries given to Ottoman soldiers and employees were kept.

V

Voile : It is a thin and light type of fabric and is generally used in making shawls, headscarves and curtains.

Y

Yağlık : A small towel or cloth made of cloth or fabric, usually embroidered or patterned, used for kitchen, dowry or cleaning purposes in traditional Turkish culture.

Yazma : Traditional Turkish headscarf decorated with printed patterns. Usually made of cotton or silk.

Yazmacılık : Hand printing of patterns on fabric using wooden molds. Used in traditional headscarves and covers.

Yemeni : 1. Traditional shoe type with leather soles and cloth or leather uppers. Still used in many regions of Anatolia.
2. A headscarf that is printed with a mold and painted by hand and is worn by women around their heads.

Ring making : Production of rings made with traditional hand workmanship. Usually gold, silver or precious stones are used.

Z

Craftsman : A person who practices traditional handicrafts and has technical knowledge and expertise.

Zeybek Costume Embroidery : It is the art of embroidery done on the traditional clothes used in Zeybek dances. It is especially common in the Western Anatolia region.