In the historical building built on the ruins of the 700-year-old Muzafferiye Madrasah in the Ottoman period in Mardin, the old weaving types of Mardin, Siirt and Şırnak regions come to life with the same methods.
The old forgotten weaving types of the Southeast, which has been a cradle to different civilizations for thousands of years, come to life in the historical structure that has been transformed into the Mardin Maturation Institute.
On the ruins of the 700-year-old Muzafferiye Madrasah on the skirts of the Mardin Castle, the historical building, which was completed in 2 blocks as Mekteb-i Rüştiye on May 11, 1892, served as secondary school, Mardin High School, Commercial High School, Girls ‘Institute, Girls’ Vocational High School and primary school respectively. gave.
The textile culture of the region is kept alive in the historical building, which has been restored by the Governorship and has been serving as the Mardin Maturation Institute since 2010 and where the arts that are about to be forgotten are kept alive.
In the workshop, which was established after the research team within the Institute researched the weaving culture in Mardin, Siirt and Şırnak regions, master instructors weave products such as rugs, blankets, runners, sofa covers, prayer rugs and saddlebags.
“We bought our first products”
Metin Değer, Director of the Mardin Maturation Institute, told Anadolu Agency that the building, which was built on the ruins of the 700-year-old madrasah during the reign of Abdülhamit II, turned into an institute 11 years ago with the opening of Emine Erdoğan, the wife of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Stating that the studies have been continuing in the fields of research, promotion and education until now, Değer said that they researched, designed, produced and promoted all cultural values of Mardin, Şırnak and Siirt regions.
Noting that they made their productions by researching the weaving culture of the region, Değer continued as follows:
“We especially produce jirki rugs, shawl sheepskin weaving, blankets made from mohair wool of Siirt, runners and prayer rugs with traditional methods and looms. We started weaving on the ground loom that we call tevn belonging to Mardin. We bought our first products. we saw that there are products. “
Stating that their work in this direction will continue, Değer drew attention to the fact that there are products based on different dates such as 300, 400 and 500 years in the institute.
Value, “We are excited to connect with history. We are proud and honored to reconnect with our past, our culture, our tradition and transfer this culture to the future.” used the expressions.
“We create the digital identity of the products”
Stating that each product is processed authentically and uniquely, they can exhibit them in domestic and international exhibitions and fairs, Değer said, “At the same time, we record it in the archive book and keep a sample of it and transfer it to the next generation. Each product has its own identity. We also create the digital identity of these products. . ” he spoke.
Weaving in the Seljuk period
Master instructor Gülhayat Acabey, who handles the weaving type of Siirt, stated that flat weavings in and around Siirt have a rich motif density.
Acabey pointed out that there are generally ram’s neck, hand on waist, abundance, foot, hand, finger, comb, star, waterway, bow, hair tie and hook motifs, “We make Siirt weaving made from goat wool by mohair during the Seljuk period. We process saddlebags and blankets. ” said.
Master instructor Canan Narcıoğlu, who handles the weaving type of Şırnak, said that they are making city-specific weavings, especially jirki rug, which is an important cultural heritage in the region.
Narcıoğlu stated that nearly 50 motifs such as dovetail, hook, scorpion, gulsaria, shimkubik, shamari, koçboynuzu, earring, camel foot, waterway and budgerigar are used in rugs, and that they try to keep this culture alive .
Birgül Kaya, who makes the type of tevn weaving belonging to Mardin, said that this handicraft, which was carried out on looms set up in houses with primitive methods in the previous periods, was woven with great devotion by women on looms called tevn.
Stating that it has been produced by a few families in recent years, especially for daily use and dowry, Kaya said:
“A type of weaving made on the ground loom. It is very old, mostly made in the nomadic period. We try to adapt it to today and keep it alive. This weaving has been done in our region for centuries.