There are few things more captivating than the handiwork on offer across almost every street across Turkey, with the locale ever ready to teach you the secrets behind their beautiful traditional handicrafts. From their beautiful embroidery to their immaculate çini tiles, these beautiful works of art are sure to captivate your attention with delicate artwork, attention to detail, and their elegance that shines through every design.

Whether it is their delicate ceramic coffee and teacups in North America or their immaculate embroidery scattered in various places across South America, Turkish handiwork has seen varying levels of popularity all over America, be it in homes or in commercial residences. The creativity and imagination of Turkish designs and handiwork have managed to capture the attention of numerous Americans, even as numerous artisans seek to combine the past and present into an artistic style that remains relevant with the passing time and generations.

A mix of culture and tradition

Turkish ceramics are an integral part of Turkish culture and esthetic tradition. Their unique taste and esthetic outlook have made highly coveted possessions worldwide, especially in North America. The consistent nature of Turkish craftsmanship can be traced back to the early Ottoman Empire. This fact makes these designs and crafts steeped in rich cultural history, making them renowned all over the world. The Turkish cities most famous for the sale of these masterpieces are Iznik, Çannakale, and Kütahya. The average price of each piece is quoted at over a million U.S. Dollars, owing to the process that is passed down by artists from generation to generation.

How are Turkish ceramics made?

The ceramic-making process starts with a base called the “biscuit”—a combination of ground quartz, clay, and silica from the local area. Next, the biscuit is dried for 7–10 days, followed by being covered carefully by clay underglaze. Finally, this biscuit is dried for another ten days by baking in a kiln set to a temperature of 950°C. This whole process hardens the clay base into a stronger substructure that the artisan can then use to work on their intricate designs.

These ceramics are traditionally based on natural themes like birds, water, flowers, or trees. The designs are carefully sketched, artfully depicting these detailed designs, after which the finished drawing is perforated with a needle and covered in charcoal dust over the biscuit to transfer the design to the surface. This design is preferred to be finished with charcoal dust so that the outlines can be traced with black dye. These ceramic handiworks are adorned with various colors, especially as Turkish ceramics are known for their rich blue and red designs.

Glazing is the final step of the process, containing a trade secret passed down for ages as soon as the paint on the biscuit is coated with a mixture of metal oxides, quartz, and a special glaze known as “secret” in Turkish. The final coating makes the colors appear much deeper, protecting it from the elements making it essentially indestructible. The last step of the process is to air-dry the piece and then place it in the kiln for 12 hours. The final product ensures that the pale hues of the paint form more vivid colors.

At EliPOT, we deliver the highest quality products from a country with a rich history, Turkey, the center of the Ottoman Empire, which not only helps collectors enjoy their beauties but also encapsulates a piece of the long and rich history of Europe and mainly Ottoman arts into your home. We enjoy the unique blend of creative imagination and spectacular skill that is inherent in every single ceramic piece, and we want to share them with you. Visit our website to go through our catalog now.