Turkish Islamic art of Marbling (Ebru)

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The word marbling is in Turkish EBRU (cloud, cloudy) or abru (Water face) (En Français. It is derived from the word ebre which belongs to one of the older Central Asian languages and it means the "moiré, veined fabric, paper etc..." used for covering some manuscripts and other holy books. 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. Through the Silk Road this art came first to Iran and picked up the name Ebru. Subsequently this art moved towards Anatolia. Specimens of marbled paper in the Turkish museum and private collections date back as far as the 15th century but unfortunately there is no evidence to show at what date the art of marbling paper first appeared in Anatolia. Around the end of 16th century tradesmen, diplomats and travelers coming to Anatolia brought this art to Europe and after the 1550s, booklovers in Europe prized Ebru which came to be known as "Turkish Paper Turkish marbled paper making". After then it was broadly used in Italy, Germany, France and England.

There is agreement amongst scholars that the so-called Turkish Papers has a colourful influence on the book arts of Europe. In the early examples from the 16th century in the Ottoman-Turkish era, Ebru appears in the battal (large) form, namely without any manipulation. Ebru technique consists of sprinkling colors containing a few drops of ox-gall on to the surface of the bath of water mixed with 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 unique 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. Since the art of marbling had a significant importance in Islamic art, it is essential to recall the basic principles of Islamic art in order to have a better and closer look at marbling and thereby reach a deeper understanding. Ottomans tried to express the beauty of the divine in all branches of art. We see them seeking to illustrate mystical beauties in architecture, music and ornamental art. During the 14th to 19th centuries many religious schools, especially Sufi sects, became a kind of "Art Workshop" educating students by a master to apprentice method. Due to the modesty encouraged by dervish precepts many works of art even had no signature on them.

Channel: Film & Animation
Uploaded: October 4, 2006 at 2:38 am
Author: batman7003

Length: 00:09:23
Rating: 4.87
Views: 132258

Tags: Islamic Civilization Art Turkish Marbling Ebru Heritage Ottoman

Video Comments:
RifleOfAllah (December 2, 2008 at 9:27 pm)
Lol this is gay, kinda like stuff they might have on the life channel.

Turks are wimps and are just barbaric wolves.
pheonixphire (December 2, 2008 at 9:28 am)
is there a special paint fo this. i love watching you paint. its so peaceful.
kespec (November 22, 2008 at 4:48 am)
neyin şerefinden bahsediyon onursuz köpek.. sen türkün tırnağı ol sonra başkalarının şerefi ve onuruna laf at.

köpekler cihatınızıda sikeyim sizin müslümanlığı ne hale getirdiniz,terrörist olduk sizin yüzünüzden, şerefli olsanız cihat diye ağlamazdınız. bak osmanlıya feyz al sizin ağzınızın kokusuna bir kere bile tenezzül etmemiş kendi başına can vermiş şan almış it oğlu it

sizin gibi müslüman olmaz olsun asıl kafir sizsiniz.
apocuyuz (November 12, 2008 at 3:15 pm)
sanatınızı sikeyim. ebruların hepsini sikeyim.
alexexper (November 17, 2008 at 2:11 pm)
ben senin sülaneni sikiyim ipne
apocuyuz (November 17, 2008 at 2:17 pm)
ben senin sülaleni sikiyim. orospu çocuğu. bağırsak solucanı.
alexexper (November 28, 2008 at 3:48 pm)
ben senin bacını dağa kaldırıp köpeklere siktiriyim travesti kılıklı göt oğlanı
dogan1355 (November 20, 2008 at 6:20 pm)
Ben seni sikim piç kurusu...
turkishgirl83 (November 9, 2008 at 4:04 pm)
nah araplarin, aptal yobaz...

ebru sanati japonya`dan gelme bir sanattir...dünyada arab diye bir sey yokken, japonlar 3000 yil önce bu sanati yapiyorlardir...

pis, yobaz arab...
sejfeddinsesli (October 24, 2008 at 11:05 am)
harikasın ..ellerin dert görmesin ..Bizim sanatımızı bu kadar güzel anlatan bir klip yapılamazdı..