History of Traditional Çanakkale Ceramics

History of Traditional Çanakkale Ceramics Çanakkale is a city located in the northwest of Anatolia, 25 km north of Troy and at the entrance of the Dardanelles (Tekkök, 2000). It has been known by different names throughout history (Boğaz Hisarı, Kale-i Sultaniye, Dardanelles, Hellespontos) and has been mentioned in the writings of many travelers with names close to its current one (Chandler, 1776; Chishull, 1747; Dallaway, 1797; Knight, 1849; Tekkök Karaöz, 2018; Sanay, 1989). In travel notes about Çanakkale, Dallaway (1797) mentioned the name Chanák kalefi in reference to the pottery production in the city. Knight (1849) noted that the name Tchanak Kalessy comes from the potters, with the word "tchanak" meaning soil or pottery.

In Ottoman history, from the 14th century onwards, İznik, Kütahya, and Çanakkale have been highlighted as important centers of ceramic art, with Çanakkale being considered as part of a unique folk art. In and around Çanakkale, clay deposits with high iron content are particularly significant for ceramic production. The soils in the region are of volcanic origin and enriched with alluvium brought by rivers. Çanakkale is also rich in various minerals such as zinc, chrome, iron, copper, lead, manganese, magnesite, and gold. The development of Çanakkale ceramics between the 17th and 20th centuries is closely related to the richness of these natural resources (Ayda, 1997).



18th-century triangular patterned Çanakkale ceramic cup Sources (Kılıçoğlu, 2019:138) ​



19th-century duck-shaped teapot, Sources (Kılıçoğlu, 2019:136)


19th and Early 20th Century Çanakkale Ceramic Teapots

(Kılıçoğlu, 2019:125,131,132).






Ayda (1994) mentions that at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, Çanakkale ceramics featured forms with horse heads, various animal and ship figures, and duck-headed jugs. These were predominantly produced during the 19th century and were used for functional purposes. In the 20th century, it was understood that these figures were more commonly used in the production of household items. Interviews revealed that the production mainly consisted of pots, earthenware, jugs, bowls, pitchers, coolers, whistles, dippers, piggy banks, sanded jugs, coffee cups, water containers, glasses, cheese, and olive storage jars


Çanakkale Ceramics in the World


Çanakkale ceramics are recognized globally as an intangible cultural heritage value, featured in various publications, fairs, and museums. Apart from that, they have a significant history in commercial relations. Following the Istanbul Treaty between Turkey and Russia in 1783, relationships between Çanakkale, Greek islands, and sailor populations began, leading to an expansion of Çanakkale's ceramic sales and customer network between 1800-1850. This reduced the distance between seller and buyer, decreasing production costs and increasing output (Korre, 2000:101). 

In the 19th century, efforts to promote Çanakkale ceramics increased. These ceramics were exhibited at international fairs such as the 1855 Paris, 1862 London, 1867 Paris, and 1876 Philadelphia World's Fairs, where the Ottoman Empire participated. For the 1855 Paris Fair, the Ottoman Empire included 29 ceramic examples from Çanakkale, Kütahya, and other regions, consisting of bricks, glassware, porcelain, and more from İnciliköy (Balasubrahmanyam, 1863: 163).

In 1876, Çanakkale ceramics at an international audience.

(Smith, 1876: 368).

Here are some images of Çanakkale ceramics from various museum collections.



Victoria and Albert Museum

 The Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in London houses a collection of Çanakkale ceramics from the period between 1850 and 1900 One notable piece is a horse-shaped ceramic made of earthenware with a purple-brown, cream, and green marbled glaze.  (Victoria and Albert Museum, 2024).

   
Ankara Ethnography Museum


Çanakkale ceramics from the late 19th to early 20th centuries.  (Kılıçoğlu, 2019: 145)

Çanakkale Seramik Müzesi

Here are some Çanakkale ceramics from the Çanakkale Ceramic Museum. Source: The photographs of these ceramics were taken by the authors.

Fitzwilliam Museum

 19th Century Çanakkale Ceramic with White Underglaze, Colorless Glaze, Painted in Dark Red and Green Source: ( Fitzwilliam Museum, 2024)

Çinili Köşk
 
 The Istanbul Çinili Köşk Museum showcases a variety of Çanakkale ceramics in its 6th hall.

Durham University Oriental Museum

Source: (Durham University Oriental Museum, 2024).

Glasgow Burrell Collection

The lion-shaped vessel in the Glasgow Burrell Collection Source: (Diri Apaydın, 2021: 270).





National Museum of Scotland

Çanakkale Ceramics from the Second Half of the 19th Century at the National Museum of Scotland Source: (National Museum of Scotland, 2024).

Suna ve İnan Kıraç Müzesi

Some of the Çanakkale Ceramics in the Suna & İnan Kıraç Kaleiçi Museum Collection (Suna ve İnan Kıraç Akdeniz Medeniyetleri Araştırma Merkezi, 2024).

 Hetjens Museum

Çanakkale, 18th Century White Underglaze Plate with Underglaze Decoration and 19th Century White Underglaze, Green Glazed Jug Source: (Okumuş Şen, 2019: 31) 

The British Museum

​ 19th Century Green-Glazed, Hand-Modeled Lion Figure  (British Museum, 2024).


The Metropolitan Museum of Art

18th Century Çanakkale Ceramic. Accession Number  (The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2024).

Sadberk Hanım Müzesi

Çanakkale Ceramic Jug in the Sadberk Hanım Museum Collection 19. yy. (Sadberk Hanım Müzesi, 2024).



Kahire İslam Eserleri Müzesi
 Çanakkale Ceramics at the Museum of Islamic Art in Cairo  (Bakla, 1993’ten akt. Ekiz, 2020).

Amasya Müzesi
 The Section Exhibiting Çanakkale Ceramics at the Amasya Museum, Photograph by Aykan Özener  (Seramik Arşivim, 2024).


Çanakkale Troya Müzesi

On the 3rd Floor of the Troy Museum: The Pottery Tradition in the Dardanelles During the Ottoman Empire (Türkiye Kültür Portalı, 2024).

Bursa Türk İslam Eserleri Müzesi
 Bursa Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts, Ottoman Tiles and Ceramics Section, Photograph by Caner Cangül  (Türkiye Kültür Portalı, 2024).

The Works of Dimitrios Statamis at the 28th Panlesvian Ceramics Exhibition 2024
Source: Photographed by the authors
 
Aside from the museums mentioned above, it is known that there is a significant collection of traditional Çanakkale ceramics at the Psaropoulos Family Foundation Center for Modern Ceramic Studies located in the Plaka district of Athens. It has been conveyed by Tunçalp that most of these works were produced by Mustafa Tunçalp himself and were given to the center's owner, Betty Psaropoulos, by him.

The cover image of the book,  Τσανάκκαλε Το Καστρο τον Αγγείων,  (Psaropoulos, 2006).



Besides the examples mentioned above, in 2024, two traditional-form ceramics were donated to the International Museum of Ceramics in Faenza, Italy, and have been exhibited since September. The artists whose works are displayed hold the title of "Bearer of Intangible Cultural Heritage" awarded by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism. These artists are Burak Çiftci and Sinem Kınay. Burak Çiftci donated a horse-headed jug, while Sinem Kınay donated her works in the form of sherbet barrels to the museum. The pieces are exhibited at the International Museum of Ceramics (Museo Internazionale Delle Ceramiche) in Faenza. 

Photographed by the authors

P.S. This information is taken from the book titled "Traditional Çanakkale Ceramics and Tourism", written within the scope of the project numbered 122G047, titled "Evaluation and Development of Traditional Çanakkale Ceramic Production within the Scope of Intangible Cultural Heritage and Its Development in Terms of Tourism", supported by TÜBİTAK 3005.

Atıf/Cite: Güzel, T., Akgündüz, Y., Sevinç Başol, F., Can, M., Turak, G. & Yalçınkaya, T. (2024). Geleneksel Çanakkale Seramikleri ve Turizm. Detay Yayıncılık. Ankara.

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