The abrasion technique in the art of traditional kerchief

Since the dawn of human history, dressing and embellishment have been of a significant place in the development of textile products and printing. The seal-shaped moulds found in the archaeological excavations in 1964 revealed that Hittites knew how to do prints with moulds in 7000 BC. The art of kerchief has been influenced by many elements according to the conditions of various periods so far. Dating back to ancient history and having a deep-rooted art culture in Traditional Turkish Arts, it is one of our rare handicrafts that has survived from the past. Due to its geographical location, our country has hosted many civilizations and has a historical background in political, economic, cultural, and artistic terms. The art of kerchief, one of the branches of art from past to present, has diversified uniquely in many provinces in our country and is named after that region. The art of kerchief is the name given to the art of embellishment made on fabrics such as cotton and linen, by painting or printing with paint, brushes or wooden moulds. The dissertation on the abrasion technique in the traditional art of kerchief consists of 4 parts. The first part deals with the historical process of the province of Tokat's being on the Silk Road, the inns built owing to its intense trading involvement, and the Yazmacılar (Kerchief Artisans) Inn, where the art of kerchief was conducted at that time, as well as the other inns surviving to the present day. The number of inns located outside and inside the city of Tokat is 31. The functional features of the three inns which can be accessed based on resources and still stand today, were presented with the archive photographs. The second part of the study consists of the definition of the art of kerchief, its importance and place in Tokat, along with the techniques of the art of kerchief, the materials used, various examples of kerchief, and the names of the masters of the art of kerchief. The third part deals with a work carried out with the masters from two different regions, Istanbul and Tokat, in the abrasion technique in the art of kerchief, which is also the title of the dissertation. The study was shaped by the knowledge and experience of these last masters, having been trained by Armenian masters in the major inns. The information they provided about the abrasion technique and the dye recipes, as well as other recipes found in the sources are also included in this part. The fourth part contains the applications conducted with the masters in the workshops using the abrasion technique in Tokat on December 6, 2019, in Istanbul on July 18, 2020, and in Tokat on April 9, 2021. The photographs of all the application stages of the abrasion technique taken in the 75. Yıl Yazmacılar Inn (the 75th Year Kerchief Artisans Inn) in Tokat are included in this part. This part also contains the photographs of daily clothing for women such as blouses, skirts, caftans, dresses, trousers, salwars, and masks along with their patterns, all of which are the examples of the abrasion printing made together with the masters, and also the photographs of the works conducted in Demeter Tekstil Design workshop using the abrasion technique. Keywords: Art of Kerchief, Abrasion, Abrasion Using Lime.