We came across these accessories and their inlayer, Zafer Karazeybek, at a small atelier in Bursa. We immediately sensed that this jewelry was different and in fact, the product of extensive experience, long years in front of the fire and a craftsman who has devoted his life to this art. Through his eyes, we were introduced to stones in a way never seen before. We were reminded how valuable every creation is in that atelier. As if items we may normally ignore had all been adorned and ready to emerge like a new bride. We want you to see them, too.The atelier is located in Bursa on the Irgandı Bridge over the tree-lined Gökdere Stream. Inlayer Karazeybek creates his art sitting by the window in view of the stream, accompanied by the sounds of water and birds. While enjoying the lush greenery that we miss in İstanbul, we agree with Karazeybek when he asks, where on earth could art be created if not there. In short, it happens as he says. In that atelier immersed in nature, extraordinary accessories and fascinating works of art emerge, such as a salt shaker made of horn, a silver spoon with a handle of bone, a comb made from a pine cone, a necklace made from fish scales and a ring made of olive stones.
For sure, there is almost 30 years of experience and an interesting story behind each work of art. Like so many whose university years coincided with the pre-1980 coup era, Karazeybek also had to quit college. Sadly he dropped out three times during that difficult period; firstly from artistic and social sciences at Middle Eastern Technical University (ODTÜ), then administrative and economic sciences at the same university and lastly from economics at Gazi University, after which he returned to his village in Bursa’s Orhangazi district. That is where he saw a shepherd using heat to reshape an ox’s horn, in order to prevent it from endangering the animal’s eye. That is where he formed the idea of making jewelry from horns and that is how the adventure started.
Later on, he shaped fish bones, animal teeth, tortoise shell and bone. He exhibited his works at the Turkish Journalists Association’s (TGC) Press Museum in İstanbul in 1992. Fourteen years later he received the State Inlayer Artist title from the Ministry of Culture and a certificate of appreciation from Parliament’s Handicrafts Commission.
Karazeybek enhances his work every year and has produced accessories from the stones and peels of various fruit, pieces of wood and pine cones. This year he has been interested in material that would otherwise be considered waste. He adorns them with silver inlay, niello, filigree and relief work. His aim is to save traditional arts from disappearing and to add novelty to what is ordinary in order to make it memorable.
“The most important thing I tell youngsters struggling with the fear of failure is ‘don’t be afraid of God’s wealth.’ I tell them to go pick some pine cones. They do so and when they return, we make some earrings and sell them. Thankfully, we can make a living. But the situation in society is heartbreaking. We used to ask God to bestow [all those goods], now we question which person will give them to us. We are being transformed from a culture that does not attach importance to servants of God, to one that worships them. I think we need to consider how to avoid losing links in the chain and to encourage artists to pass on their art to future generations.
For Karazeybek, the real concern is that talented and experienced masters of handcrafts and arts are dying without any successors. He says the reason that they do not train anyone is because those masters may barely get by with their modest earning for their work and might not want others to suffer from similar difficulties in the future. However he adds, state policies supporting the continuation of traditional arts will also mean supporting the artists and can very well solve this problem. He simply expects a hand for his colleagues who he says bequeath not only precious works of art but also a culture of living.
National
