A research on samples of handicrafts available in Nevşehir Provincial Museum in the Central Anatolia Region

Present research was planned and carried out in order to classify handicrafts works in Nevşehir Provincial Museum in the Central Anatolia Region and then examine them in terms of areas of use, materials, techniques applied, color, ornament and forms of composition, as a consequence, to contribute to promotion of our handicrafts, which represent our material culture in museums.This research is composed of 4 main sections. Sections I and II include scope and method of the research. Section III is about conceptual framework of the research, information forms, findings and comments while the last section, IV, covers conclusion and recommendations.The research is restricted to samples of handicrafts works exhibited in Nevşehir Provincial Museum in the Central Anatolia Region (such as pieces of needlework, knitting, weaving and jewelry). Of the handicrafts samples kept in the museum, 162 pieces were included in the study.The pieces documenting ethnographical samples in Nevşehir Museum which were handled were pictured and features such as materials, techniques applied, color and composition were analyzed on information forms.Samples of needlework examined in the museum include towels, peşkir (napkin), waistband, bed sheet, handmade surroundings, hand-painted kerchief, bundles and small pillows.It was seen that cotton fabric was used for needlework. As for techniques applied; Antep needlework and Turkish technique; colors such as green and blue; vegetative ornaments were commonly used. As for the yarns used in needlework, cotton yarn and purls were dominantly used.Of the female wear pieces examined in the museum; it was seen that the ground for Bindallı, baggy trousers and salta (blazer) was mainly velvet while Maraş (dival) needlework was put alongside vegetative motives on most of the pieces. Purl was used for a weaving material on a frequent basis.The group of caps and jewelry included in the research sample includes cap stone, frontoral accessories, fez hook, hair ribbon, neckband, amulet cap, yanakdöven (a type of accessory falling downward from the hair), bibs, belts and belt buckle. In connection with ornament of fez, which is the main material of women caps, cap stones and penez (round coins used for dress decoration) were seen to have been used intensively. As for jewelry; silver was mainly decorated by using stone. Relief and stone inlay were techniques used for ornament of such accessories and mostly geometrical ornamentation was used then.In majority of the bags seen in the museum (money, tobacco, hair comb and watch bags and wallet) were made of using knitting needlework, and cotton yarn was used as material. While green, blue and red were the most frequently used colors in bags, it was seen that geometrical ornament was used as must as vegetative ornament.The knitted group is composed of bootees, gloves and socks. Socks, constituting majority of the knitted pieces, were woven with five needle technique by using wool yarn. White and green colors were frequently preferred in socks while geometrical and vegetative motives were main items used for ornament.As for the woven group, wool yarn was used in majority of the items such as carpets, rugs, bags, saddlebags, girth and weaving fabrics; carpet technique was applied as the mostly used technique, and red, black, beige, yellow and blue were used as predominant colors. It was found out that woven pieces decorated with geometrical motives are common.The activities carried out in the museum showed that many samples in Nevşehir Museum are being kept in storing houses. Nevşehir Provincial Museum, which is rich in terms of ethnographic pieces, faces lack of exhibition halls like many other museums.In Nevşehir Museum, it was observed that inventory information regarding many items were incomplete. It was concluded that information in this area must be updated shortly, promoted in electronic media and exhibition areas must be arranged. Both persons and organizations carrying out research in this area must be supported so that many work pieces can be disclosed and thus can be saved from being useless items.Key words: Nevşehir Museum, Ethnographical works, Handicrafts, Needlework, weaving, female wear, bags, knitting, metal jewelry and caps.