Traditional Crafts

Traditional Crafts of Afyonkarahisar: In the Footsteps of Silent Masters

Afyonkarahisar is a city brought to life not only by its thermal springs and historical landmarks, but also by a deep-rooted tradition of handmade craftsmanship. Passed down through generations, crafts such as felt-making, carpet weaving, copperwork, stone carving, and woodcraft not only embellish daily life, but also preserve the collective cultural memory.

These crafts are not merely “products”; they are personal stories shaped with patience and silence, carrying the traces of the past. In every knot, every loop, every strike of the hammer lies the identity of a family, a neighborhood, a master artisan. Whether in the old bazaars, quiet workshops, or the shaded corner of a home—this tradition still breathes.

Now, I give the floor to my grandmother—someone who has witnessed and lived this heritage...

Interview: "Back then, every hand had a craft, and every craft had its patience."

— Grandma, I heard there used to be lots of handicrafts around here. What do you remember?

— Oh yes, my dear… When I was a child, every house had some kind of craft. Some knew how to weave carpets, some worked with felt, others carved wood. But not everyone did every craft—there were real masters back then. There was this man across the neighborhood, Rahmi Usta. He carved stone. When he made a gravestone, it wasn’t just writing—it felt like prayers were descending onto it. The way he held his hammer... even that was something different.

— Did people weave carpets in Çay?

— Of course! Especially around Şuhut, every house had a loom. And the patterns—they weren’t just decorations, you know. Each one had a story. For example, they’d weave a “Hand of Blessing” in the center so the house would be filled with abundance. Before marriage, girls would weave their own dowry carpets. Knot by knot, they’d pour their dreams into them. And those carpets didn’t wear out easily—one would last forty years!

— What about felt-making?

— Oh my child, if I told youngsters today, they wouldn’t believe me—but winters were unthinkable without felt. Especially near Gazlıgöl, people would rise at the crack of dawn, boil water, add soap… They’d beat and knead the wool until it turned into felt. Then they’d add patterns—nothing pre-drawn, mind you, just whatever came to the women’s minds. Sometimes a tulip, sometimes a wolf’s foot… sometimes even the first letter of the boy they loved, hidden deep in the design.

— Do young people show any interest today?

— Sure they do… but you know how it is, kids these days lose patience quickly. They want everything done fast. Back in our day, they used to say, “A slow hand makes solid work.” Our neighbor’s grandson—he came back after university and started a felt workshop here. But the first time, he overheated the water and burned the felt! I told him, “My boy, even felt is like a person—if you boil it too much, it falls apart.”

— Are there still any traces of the old masters?

— Oh, surely. There’s a little shop down near the old market, still working with copper. I went last year—they still keep Rahmi Usta’s hammer, hanging on the wall. They don’t use it anymore, but they keep it there not to forget his mastery. And you know what? Sometimes, just the sound of a hammer is enough to remember a whole lifetime...

Location: Çay, Afyonkarahisar
Date: July 2025

Featured Traditional Crafts

Mastery in Stone

Around İscehisar and Çay, masterful hands carve marble using traditional chisels. Especially on gravestones, prayers, names, and decorative motifs come together as a form of ancestral art. Each stone stands as a silent remembrance.

Felt-Making

In Afyon, felt is handmade by kneading wool with hot water and soap. Beaten and compressed by hand, the felt is used for mattresses, cradle linings, and clothing. Each pattern carries traces of the artisan’s inner world.

Copper Craftsmanship

In the old bazaars, the rhythmic sound of hammers still echoes. Cauldrons, ewers, and plates are shaped entirely by hand through careful hammering. Local motifs are engraved onto each piece—meant not only to be used, but also proudly displayed.