Ethnographic Works

Yapı Kredi Bank has always believed in investing in culture and the arts and has taken important steps with its endeavours in these areas to help our country reach a higher level of modernity.

Ethnographic works hold a large place in Yapı Kredi’s collections. The Turkish Association to Populariza and Preserve Traditional Folk Dancing, founded by Vedat Nedim Tör within Yapı Kredi, became very successful throughout the country; during the same period, Prof. Kenan Özbel was appointed the task of compiling local art works. The most comprehensive among these collections, initiated by Yapı Kredi and enriched through the years, is our ‘Embroideries and Textiles’, a huge collection of çatmas (various cloths and coverings) and fabrics as well as other local art works such as nomadic carpets, carpetbags, socks and kolon (woven fabrics), and needle-laced and knitted clock and tobacco pouches, all characteristic of Anatolia.

Along with these, examples of Turkish textiles, whose weaving techniques have still not been discovered, are purposefully exhibited in eye-catching displays, sure to provide an insight into our textile history. Yapı Kredi has been collecting select examples of craftwork from various regions for almost half a century: prayer beads, Karagöz figures and tombac, especiallycopper and brass tombac glossed with an amalgam of gold and mercury, which has been the most sought after craftwork throughout history in both the West and the East. The collection of prayer beads, both organic and inorganic, made from different materials from ancient amber resins and rosewood trees to ivory, coral, gold, emeralds and pearls are on display in rotation.

Another collection on display are Karagöz figures compiled by Ragıp Tuğtekin (1892-1973), one of the most prominent representatives of the shadow play, from the beginning of the last century. Two manuscripts, including the Karagöz technique and plays, complete this collection.