Carved woodworking is a skill that takes years to masters. One must learn about the qualities of the different woods and the techniques and tools employed in carving. Turks were already skilled wood workers when they migrated to what is now Central Turkey. Once established in Anatolia, the craft of woodworking flourished until the end of the Ottoman Empire.
The most commonly used woods are walnut, apple, pear, cypress, ebony, cedar and rose. Because of the Islamic avoidance of portraying humans in art, geometric forms and plant and flower motifs are generally used. One of the most popular forms of woodworking is to take small geometric shapes and place them together to create larger pieces, with the grains arranged in different directions to help avoid warping. In addition to carving, engraved and inlaid pieces are popular, as are varnished wood pieces.
Woodworking for the interiors of mosques is still a highly prized skill. Handcrafted Minbars (where the Friday sermon is given), mihrabs indicating the direction to Mecca, book stands for Qur’ans, mosque doors, cupboards for storage and windows are still widely produced. Sadly, household pieces such as shutters, banisters, latticework room dividers and cradles are rarely produced any longer as demand for these products continues to fall.
The most commonly used woods are walnut, apple, pear, cypress, ebony, cedar and rose. Because of the Islamic avoidance of portraying humans in art, geometric forms and plant and flower motifs are generally used. One of the most popular forms of woodworking is to take small geometric shapes and place them together to create larger pieces, with the grains arranged in different directions to help avoid warping. In addition to carving, engraved and inlaid pieces are popular, as are varnished wood pieces.
Woodworking for the interiors of mosques is still a highly prized skill. Handcrafted Minbars (where the Friday sermon is given), mihrabs indicating the direction to Mecca, book stands for Qur’ans, mosque doors, cupboards for storage and windows are still widely produced. Sadly, household pieces such as shutters, banisters, latticework room dividers and cradles are rarely produced any longer as demand for these products continues to fall.