Turkish Marbling Ebru Art

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Art of Ottoman Paper Marbling – Ebru Masterclass – Sultanahmet / English Tutoring 

Turkish Marbling – Ebru Lessons in Istanbul.

  • Duration: 2 hours (Flexible)
  • Location:  Sultanahmet / ISTANBUL
  • Lesson Teachings: available in English, French, Russian, Turkish

Turkish Paper marbling is a method of aqueous surface design, which can produce patterns similar to marble or other stone, hence the name. The patterns are the result of color floated on either plain water or a viscous solution known as size, and then carefully transferred to a sheet of paper (or other surfaces such as fabric). In Ebru art, you can draw flower figures that are traditional from the Ottoman period BUT the things that you can capable of by using Ebru art is unlimited. All you need is your imagination.

Marbling is the art of creating colorful patterns by sprinkling and brushing color pigments on a pan of oily water and then transforming this pattern to paper. The special tools of the trade are brushes of horsehair bound to straight rose twigs, a deep tray made of unknotted pinewood, natural earth pigments, cattle gall and tragacanth. It is believed to be invented in the thirteenth century Turkistan. This decorative art then spread to China, India and Persia and Anatolia. Seljuk and Ottoman calligraphers and artists used marbling to decorate books, imperial decrees, official correspondence and documents.

What is Included ;

  • In our lessons; we can teach beginner & advanced level Professional Artists
  • Traditional Ottoman style paper marbling class. ( On special request can be done on fabric )
  • All equipment for Turkish Marbling – Ebru Workshop
  • Workshop Area,  Aprons &  Gloves
  • Turkish Tea & Water

Our teachers are local Turkish Artisans and have experience in teaching.

Our Artists are Professional in Marbling – Ebru Art & Local Artisans.** If you have any interest of learning Classical Ottoman Marbling – Ebru, joining a workshop masterclass or ordering a special Turkish Marble Art Work from our teachers please call us or send us an e-mail to get more information and to get a meeting..

TURKISH MARBLING, EBRU

Marbled paper, called ebru in Turkish, was used extensively in the binding of books and within the calligraphic panels in Turkey.  The existing word ebre in Eastern Turkish, meaning variegated, points to the fact that marbling might have been known by the populations of Central Asia. Its origin might ultimately hark back to China, where a document from the T’ang dynasty (618-907) mentions a process of coloring paper on water with five hues. In the early examples from the 16th c. in the Ottoman-Turkish era, ebru appears in the battal (stone) form, namely without any manipulation. Interestingly, several variations developed in time, giving us types such as gelgit, tarakli, hatip, bülbül yuvasi, çiçekli (respectively come-and-go, combed, preacher, nightingale’s nest, flowered, etc.) An attempt has been made here to show some of its principal patterns, with samples by the master marblers of this century chosen from our collection.

Ebru technique consists of sprinkling colours containing a few drops of ox-gall on to the surface of the bath sized with kitre (gum tragacanth) in a trough. By carefully laying the paper over the bath, the floating picture on top of it is readily transferred to the paper; thus, each ebru is a one of a kind print. To obtain beautiful ebru results, one needs to have a light hand, refined taste, and an open mind to the unexpected patterns forming on the water. Patience and a good knowledge of traditional culture are characteristic of ebru masters.

After the 1550’s, booklovers in Europe prized ebru, which came to be known as ‘Turkish papers’. Many specimens in their collections and in the several album amicorum books are visible today in various museums. Also, early texts dealing with ebru, such as “Discourse on decorating paper in the Turkish manner”, published in 1664 by Athanasius Kircher in Rome, helped to disseminate the knowledge of this kind of marbling art. There is agreement amongst scholars that  the so-called Turkish Papers played a colourful influence on the book arts in Europe.

Ebru Marbling is a unique art which many painting and design lovers like to do in their spare time and especially demonstrate to their friends on different occasions. Nevertheless, this spectacular piece of art does have many applications in daily life where it is used to enhance the decor and look of the goods. This patterned paper is extensively used in the binding of books and within the calligraphic panels in Turkey. In addition to this, “ebru” works are often framed as pictures and used all over the world as a piece of decoration. Other than paper work, the pattern is often designed on leather, glass, cloth, furniture, book covers, notebooks, invitations, and many other areas to reflect the unique glamour of this art.

MATERIALS USED IN CLASSICAL TURKISH MARBLING

Our Professional Marbling Set is Available for Purchase in Our Gallery.
We can also mail it all over the world with Dhl Express Shipping

Set Cost : 150 Euro + Shipping.
For Order : info@oldistanbul.com

1 Person :50 Euro Per Person
more…Call or Whatsapp
Mr Uğur ŞENGÜLER
+905057093384

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