The Gold Ewer That Returned to Anatolia
An ancient Hattian gold ewer brings delicate metalwork, a collector’s fascination and a return to Ankara into one story, with a contemporary sculpture carrying its memory forward.
Articles
All Silver Lace Craft stories about jewelry and the crafts of Turkey, newest first.
Every story below was approved by the editor and published in three languages at once.
A Rose Garden in Glass: The Beykoz Gülabdan
Pink roses, blue forget-me-nots and delicate gilding turn a Beykoz rosewater bottle into a small garden, connecting the pleasure of fine detail with the history of Ottoman glass.
A Case Within a Case: London Watches for Ottoman Buyers
Nested cases, diamond-set silver hands and a river painted in enamel reveal the intimate appeal of London watches made for Ottoman buyers in the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.
Gordion’s Bronze Fibulae: Adornment Beside a King
A cloth bag beside a royal coffin held 145 bronze fibulae: Gordion’s remarkable garment pins reveal sculptural beauty, far-reaching connections and a mystery of personal adornment.
Mother-of-Pearl and Silver Underfoot: The Ottoman Nalın
Mother-of-pearl, blue cloth and silver thread illuminate the story of Ottoman nalın, from their practical role in the hammam to bridal gifts and expressions of status.
Jewelry for Coffee: The Ottoman Zarf
A tiny gold coffee-cup holder from Sultan Abdülhamid II’s collection reveals a world of twisting ruby bands, diamond flowers and nineteenth-century Ottoman luxury.
Nelson’s Çelenk: A Jewel Made to Move
Given to Nelson by Sultan Selim III, a diamond çelenk paired trembling rays with a turning star; its story survives in a drawing, an imperfect portrait and a film replica.
Gardens at the Waist: The Many Lives of Ottoman Buckles
Flowers of gold and stone turn Ottoman belt buckles into miniature gardens, where ingenious fastenings meet the pleasures of dress, the display of status, and wealth held close.
The Warrior’s Jewel: How the Zihgir Transformed from Battlefield Tool to Royal Statement
Discover the captivating history of the zihgir, an Ottoman archer’s thumb ring that evolved from a vital military necessity into a masterpiece of courtly jewelry.
Woven in Silver: The Ancient Art of Anatolian Telkari
Discover the 5,000-year-old craft of Telkari, where Syriac masters in Midyat use raw physical strength to transform molten metal into delicate, lace-like silver art.
The Silver Silk of Trabzon: Unraveling the Ancient Art of Kazaziye
Discover the ancient Anatolian art of Kazaziye, where master artisans weave microscopic threads of pure silver into breathtaking, flexible jewelry.
Telkari: The Silver Lace of Anatolia
Discover the ancient art of telkari, where fine silver wires are transformed into delicate, intricate jewelry in the heart of historic Mardin.