Traditional Turkish arts are the general name given to the types of art that constitute a part of our culture. Calligraphy and illumination come first among these arts. While some of these arts originate from the pre-Islamic period, others have developed in parallel with Islam. These branches of art, which experienced their golden age during the Ottoman period and produced great masters, are today mostly practiced as hobbies. If we put aside elements such as the skill, imagination, experience and creativity of the master, you also need different materials to perform these arts. Since calligraphy and illumination arts are generally writing and decorative arts, their main materials are materials such as paper, pen, paint and ink. However, it is not possible for someone who is devoted to this work to be satisfied with this much. Murakka, Gold leaf, Ahar, utility knife, utility knife tip, bur, compass and ruler set, rapido, needle, trilin, inkwell and many other auxiliary materials are also needed. When it comes to types of utility knives, one of the first things that comes to mind is undoubtedly the Olfa utility knife. In this article, we will give you brief information about calligraphy and illumination, which are traditional Turkish-Islamic arts, while also briefly mentioning the materials you may need.
Calligraphy
The art of beautiful writing using Arabic letters has produced extremely rich and aesthetic works. The art of calligraphy has been developed from generation to generation with great care, effort and labor, and has been elevated to the level of fine arts and has continued its existence until today.
As in many traditional Turkish arts, the Ottomans also showed a special interest in the art of calligraphy, and calligraphy masters were personally complimented by the sultans. In addition, there were those who were engaged in calligraphy among the Ottoman sultans.
The strong tradition formed within the framework of the master-apprentice relationship has been instrumental in the survival of countless beautiful examples of calligraphy in mosques, masjids, cemeteries and museums to the present day.
Materials Used in Calligraphy
Pen: The basic tool of calligraphy, the pen, is made of reed. It is carved with a special knife called a pencil sharpener and opened at a certain angle.
Ink: The ink used in calligraphy is specially prepared by beating Arabic glue with soot and allows for fluent writing.
Paper: The papers used in calligraphy are dyed with various colors with dyes. Ahar is applied to the surface of the papers so that the ink does not spread and the pen can move easily on it and then it is sealed. It is possible to buy ready-made sized paper.
Inkwell: An inkwell is a container where ink is placed.
Lika: A silk material placed so that the tip of the pen does not hit the bottom and break when inserted into the inkwell.
Kalemdan: Used to hold the pens.
Where to Buy the Materials Used in Calligraphy?
The Art of Illumination
Illumination is the name given to decorations made using paint and gold dust. The person who performs the art of illumination is called a muzehhib, and the resulting work is called a muzehhep. Illumination is essentially an Arabic word and means gold plating.
The art of illumination has a very deep-rooted history, experts date the history of illumination back to the Uyghur Turks. Illumination experienced its brightest period when it began to be used to decorate official documents in the Ottoman Empire.
Materials Used in Illumination Art
A wide variety of materials are needed in the execution of illumination, which is the art of decorating with gold. Some of these can be listed as follows:
Pencil-Eraser: Pencils of various softness and thickness and a soft eraser.
Compass and Ruler Set: Non-slip compass and ruler.
Füzen: A pencil obtained by burning, a piece of branch.
Craft Knife: A sharp craft knife used to cut various papers.
Trill:
Correction Knife: A sharp-tipped knife used by illuminators and calligraphers to scrape off mistakes.
Brushes: One of the most important materials in illumination. A good illumination work can be created with a good pattern, a good brush, good paint and a good hand.
Mühre: Round ball, glass bead, seashell, crystal ball
Murakka: Cardboard obtained by sticking several papers on top of each other.
Gold Plate: Ceramic or high-quality glass plates used for crushing gold.
Gold Leaf: Gold Leaf is one of the most important materials of illumination.
Ahar: Liquid made from egg white, starch, starch, gum arabic, white alum, flour, mallow flower, fresh rose petal, rice
Paint: Today, gouache or water color is generally used in illumination. Some masters also use acrylic paints.
