Found in the Elhamra Tile Workshop of Ahmet Kerkük Patterns Signed by Hakkı Ermumcu

Abstract

When it comes to tile art in Turkey, the first cities that come to mind are Iznik and Kütahya. Kütahya started tile art in the 14th century. It has contributed in parallel with Iznik since. Especially since the 18th century, it has continued its existence with its unique production and produced important works that reflect its period. Kütahya tile art, which has survived until today, has been able to survive with its devoted masters from past to present. However, economic problems, changing tastes, the inadequacy of old techniques with the development of technology, and the different demands of the consumer society have caused deterioration in the quality of tile art. On the other hand, the masters who protected the Kütahya tile art tried to contribute to the development of this art by preserving its originality as much as they could. Carrying out the pattern, form design and production of traditional Kütahya tiles in accordance with tradition will ensure that this art is remembered as an important value both socially, culturally, and economically, with a unique style, and will enable the emergence of products that can accurately represent this unique tradition.

Research on the masters and their works, which preserves the special values ​​of Kütahya tile making, which is considered an urban art, and carries it to the present day, is not sufficient at the academic level. This inadequacy is more clearly evident for the masters of the republic period. Therefore, in this study, the designs signed by Kütahya tile master Ahmet Kirkuk, Ahmet Kirkuk Workshop-Elhamra Workshop and Hakkı Ermumcu, who made pattern studies in this workshop, were examined and a resource was created for the field. Pattern samples applied on tile plates belonging to Hakkı Ermumcu, one of the masters and craftsmen of the Republic period, and the Elhamra Tile Workshop were compared with the patterns of the past period. In this way, the connection of Hakkı Ermumcu's patterns with the past and his new approaches has been tried to be revealed. Thus, it will be possible for the pattern designs produced specifically for Kütahya and the works of masters and artists who contributed to the 20th century Kütahya tile making in this field to be included in the literature as a source.