The art of tiles and Ceramics in Turkey had been developed in Anatolia and reached the highest technical and aesthetic level, especially during the periods of the Seljuks and the Ottoman, and it is one of Istanbul’s tourist signs.
The art of decoration and ceramics in Turkey
Ceramic art became a cultural treasure by developing in Anatolia throughout history. Through the ages from the first ages, with its decorations and the raw materials they contain with the mixture of metals and oxide it transforms into a work of art that reflects the sensitivity of societies, cultures, religious beliefs, relationships and life within the community.
Considering that the ceramic that was found in the 6000 BC century in Hacılar and Alacahöyük are the most original and artistic structures in this area, it can be concluded that the homeland of ceramics is Anatolian lands.
Ceramic which was initially used as utensils to carry and store food and beverages, later turned into writing tablets, oil lamps and architectural objects, and by learning the glazing technique, it found more use in daily life as it prevented the leakage of the liquid put into it. In addition, the glaze provided a highly aesthetic and colorful appearance.
Considering that ceramic products are heavy and fragile and kilns are difficult to transport, the question of why ceramics developed less in nomadic societies can be answered. The art of ceramics showed an important development with the acceptance of Islam and the settled life of the Turks. It reached technical diversity during the Seljuk period. Seljuk sultans used ceramics in important architectural structures to consolidate their power, and decorated mosque mihrabs, domes and minarets, tombs, madrasahs and palaces with ceramics and tiles.
Ceramics in the Seljuk Period
With the Seljuks, the white-textured mud material was introduced, new decoration, scraping, glazing techniques were applied, and important techniques such as underglaze decorations, overglaze luster decorations and overglaze multicolored decorations began to be developed. It was developed using techniques such as fine engraving, barbotine, nickname, underglaze and slip on ceramics and tiles found in Iran, based on turquoise, cobalt blue, turquoise and monochromatic white glazed products.
From the Seljuks to the last periods of the Ottoman Empire, the art of tiles and ceramics left their mark on very original examples and firsts, and brought extremely magnificent works to humanity. Since the 15th century, it dominated a large part of Anatolia and laid the foundations of Classical Ottoman art.
The Ceramics in Iznik
In the 17th century, Iznik became an important center for tile production in the Ottoman Empire. The most distinctive feature of ceramic tiles
In the sixteenth century Iznik added the red color to the blue-white decorations except for green, turquoise and black.
Unique designs were prepared by masters under the supervision of a chief architect and produced in workshops in Iznik, in the muralist that Fatih Sultan Mehmed established in the palace. All stages; preparation of hard and high quality white ceramic clay, raw materials used, cooking techniques, lining, paint, characteristic patterns, smooth surface and transparent red glaze…
All these have made Iznik the most important tile and ceramic center in the world for over a hundred years.
Might interest you: Turkish women customs and traditions in clothes
The ceramics in kutahya
Kütahya was the most important Ottoman center for ceramic production. Thanks to the abundant deposits of clay in the area, ceramics were made here
In large quantities in Phrygian, Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine times, the traditional techniques of this art have survived to this day
Ceramics in Canakkale
From the end of the 17th century to the early decades of the 20th century, Canakkale was a production area for original and picturesque artwork.
Purplish brown, orange, yellow, dark blue and white paints were applied under a transparent coating. jugs are considered
Ceramics in the Decline period
During the decline period, the decrease in the financial support of the palace, the entry of imported products into the country began to reduce the quality of ceramics and tiles produced in the country, and at the end of the 19th century, the studies on ceramics and tiles came to a halt.
Ceramics in the Republican Era
The new Republic of Turkey, which was established after the War of Independence, accepted ceramics both as a branch of art and allowed it to develop as an industry branch. In the first years of the Republic, artists were sent abroad for ceramic education, Sanayi Nefise Mektebi (Fine Arts Academy) was established in 1929, and ceramics now gained an academic qualification with the participation of the Decorative Arts Department. Ceramic artists, Hakkı İzzet and Vedat Ar, whose “Ceramics and Turkish Tile Making” Workshop was established by İsmail Hakkı Oygar, opened the doors of a contemporary and unique ceramic form.
In 1950, the first private ceramic workshops were started to be established, and traditional elements in wall panels, plates and forms made using pictorial elements were interpreted with a contemporary style. The year 1970 can be accepted as the beginning of the maturity period of ceramic art. Today, young artists trained in Fine Arts Faculties are working to bring Turkish ceramic art to the place it deserves in the world by bringing together their perspectives and original interpretations with Anatolian and Turkish history and culture.