Avanos, located on the banks of Kizilirmak (Red River), is about 8 kilometers from Cappadocia’s city center. Pottery has been produced in this region as far back as 2000 BC, during the Hittites period. Humans have been creative throughout history by using what resources the land provides to their advantage for daily living. The Red River, the longest river in Turkey, has supplied many generations of master artisans with red clay to produce artistic pieces of pottery.
FAMILY TRADITION
Avanos is famous for handicrafts that have been created here for generations, such as pottery and carpets. The craft of pottery had been taught from father to son until the 1980s when it began to decline. Due to the lack of interest, family potters are slowly vanishing. Some of the more famous potters in Avanos have taken upon themselves to share their craft knowledge by creating studios and traveling throughout Turkey to educate those interested in learning the trade.
TOUR OF THE POTTERY WORKSHOP
We had a guided tour by Galip’s lovely wife, Lilian, a Dutch artist, who shared information about the process of creating artistic pottery and what the different patterns and designs meant. If you want a more in-depth lesson on pottery, Galip offers workshops and arrange courses for those interested in learning more about the craft.
STAGES OF CREATING POTTERY
Within the shop are various stages of production of creating expressive pieces of art. First, we watched a potter use a foot spinner to take a block of red clay and shape it into a vase.
Next, the clay piece is cut from the wheel and placed in a dark area for 1-2 days covered with cloth or plastic to dry. During this process, pieces can be trimmed and signed.
After the kiln, the pottery is ready for the artist to hand-paint Turkish designs.
TURKISH PATTERNS & DESIGNS
Turkish ceramic designs depict cultural aspects as well as the region and period in which the style originated. You will find most of the Turkish art incorporate a spiral bright blue arabesque pattern, containing simple colors on a white background. Among the most popular Turkish ceramics have elaborate artwork resembling flowers, plants, animals made into bowls, plates, teapots, coffee cups, and vases.
My favorite ceramic pattern is floral design. These colorful designs bring life to a room or a table. We selected three different size plates to display on the wall in our new home. These pieces become conversation pieces with family and friends.
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