History of Turkish Ceramics

The art of Turkish ceramics developed in Anatolia in the earliest ages of the region, and play a very important role in Turkey’s history and culture.

Turkey’s history of ceramic production dates back to about 10,000 years, with different types developing in multiple regions. During the mid-20th century era, mass production began as Turkish ceramic producers built factories to produce the ceramics on a much larger scale, leading to the popularity and incline in production of Turkish ceramics.

A big part of the fascination with Turkish ceramics was, and is, the strength of the shell. Turkish ceramics can hold good condition and their color for centuries.

During the 12th century, the Seljuk Turks created the ceramics using themes that focused on geometrical shapes and patterns and prioritizing shades of blue. As the culture shifted from the 15th and 17th centuries during the Ottoman Empire, colors of ceramics became more bold and distinctive, with clearer outlines and shapes. Iznik work grew to its peak in the 16th century, leading to the production of over 300 artistic workshops running effectively at once.

During this time, ceramics were not only used for decoration but also to assist in building and formulating a design for plain surfaces. Tile making, brick production, and roof production all have creative groups that are considered branches of ceramics. The most popular type of Turkish ceramic is the Iznik, however, there are many historic, regional variations of ceramics.