Hello Artsies! I am back with a new story where I spent a day in a very close family friend's carpet & antiques shop. Mr. Ali Karababa is a very well-known -if not the biggest- collector from Ankara! From museum assigned pieces belonging to The Great Seljuk and Ottoman Empire, to family heirlooms discovered in the distant villages of Turkey, many great antiques and carpets can be found in Alibaba's store in the Esat neighbourhood of Ankara. There is a twist however, although it is a "store", many of the items here are not for sale because of their rarity, historical value and Alibaba's devotion to them! Come and join me on today's post where I spent a day exploring the the most valuable pieces in their store and listening to his son, Mr. Kemal Karababa!
Mr. Ali Karababa, known as "Alibaba" and his 2 sons, Kemal and Eyup has been doing this business since 1960's. Although Alibaba started his career as a contractor, his interest in antiques and carpets started in his teenage years. "My father started this business because of his love for antiques and travelled to many distant villages in over 64 out of 67 cities in Turkey (in 1960's and 1970's) and collected historical artefacts" says Mr. Karababa. According to him, the reason his father decided not to sell many items from his collection was due to the fact that he loved all of his pieces as a "children" and refused to part ways with them. He adds, "he opened a store in Tehran Street (a very popular street in Ankara) and sold many antiques in 3 months, he then realised that he couldn't find the same or similar pieces again, after then, he never sold a rare piece." I have translated the important points into English in my texts, you can see the full Turkish video below.
After his experience in store in the Tehran Street, in order to ensure the safety and care of the artefacts, Alibaba decided to register his most valuable pieces to museums of Turkey. According to "Law No. 2863 on the Protection of Cultural and Natural Heritage", trade of registered pieces with ethnographic and cultural value can only be done under very specific requirements and legal procedures. Like with Alibaba's pieces, The Museum Directorates arrange a "Movable Cultural and Natural Property Certificate Subject to Registration" With this procedure, Alibaba makes sure that the artefact goes under minister control. The purchase-sale and exchange transactions of the such items can only be carried out by the owners of this document at the nearest museum directorate, and the new situation is declared in writing to the museum where the document was issued. It is forbidden to transfer it to someone else, sell it and take it abroad illegally. You can see just a minor portion of the artefacts aforementioned, in the Turkish video below.
Alibaba's collection is displayed in 4 stories, extended over a 600 sqm. space in their store in Esat. As we have seen from the video, there are items dating even back to 11th century Seljuk period to 18th century pieces used by the Ottoman Sultans in Topkapi Palace. There are also more recent pieces such as 18th century furniture owned by Otto Eduard Leopold, Prince of Bismarck, Duke of Lauenburg. Alibaba pays the utmost care to his items, I am a first-hand witness to this as I visited the store many times during my childhood years as well as very recently, and the items are still in the same, if not in better condition! Here is a collage I made from the endless rooms of the store.
Phyrgia Kingdom Treasure found in Divrigi
When asked to share a story told to him by his father, Mr. Karababa tells a story of a deep buried treasure discovered in Odur, Sivas Divrigi. The treasure belonging to The Phyrgia Kingdom of 1100 B.C., was unearthed by illegal treasure hunters where they discover a tomb. "They first let down a rabbit down the tunnel, and the rabbit died because of poison" he says. After seeing the rabbit die, a villager reports the incident to the local authorities. With the help of the ministry, the tomb and all of its treasures -25 kg. of pure gold relics and coins- are excavated and now are being displayed in the Kayseri Museum.
Ataturk Statue by Italian Sculptor Pietro Canonica
Mr. Karababa also shares a story of a valuable piece in his father's collection, a bust of the great founding father of Republic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. The bust, made by the Italian Sculptor Pietro Canonica, was commissioned by Ataturk in order to see the craftsmanship of Canonica. According to him, the famous Victory Monument located in the center of Ankara Ulus Square, was approved by Ataturk after seeing this exact bust made by the sculptor. I have translated the story into English above, but you can also hear the Turkish sound recording.
Making Alaaddin Jealous, Always Magical: Carpets
Mr. Karababa also introduces us to the most valuable carpets in the store. Spoiler alert, some of these carpets that are over 300 hundred years old! He and his staff of over 25 years Aydin Bey tells me the location these carpets were woven, as well as what is making them special. As you may tell, the age is a contributing factor to their value, but their dye and condition are also in the upmost importance. You can take a look at aforementioned carpets below.
As we learn from Aydin Bey, the reason these carpets are considered valuable lies within their dye. Natural and Madder dye, which are extracted from roots of various plants and vegetables such as walnut shells, herbs, and even onion peel are used in these carpets! When cared upon, the dye of these carpets never age he claims. I also learn that black parts of the carpet are the most easily deteriorated, since the onion peel used to make the dye is the most prune to rot. Mr. Karababa adds that most of these carpets are in fact not used daily, but only displayed in houses when special guests come over. I have summarised and translated the important points above. In the video below, you can see the details about the most valuable carpets in the store, and Mr. Karababa and Aydin Bey's explanations.
I spent an amazing day with Mr. Kemal Karababa, exploring the most exquisite antiques, listening to stories and learning about the details that make a carpet special. If you'd like to pay a visit to Mr. Alibaba's Esat store, I have added their address in the map below.
I hope you liked today's post as much as I did, I can't wait to hear your comments below. Until then, stay Artsy! ✨
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Hello Artsies! As you may remember from last week, we have conducted a research together on what were the most popular interior design styles, and how they have differed between men & women participants. With an abundance of unique design styles, it can be daunting to decipher which style will work best for your taste. But with this week's post, I am hoping to give you a great starting point by introducing further into the 2 most popular design styles of 2020, selected by you! 1. Female Artsies' Choice: The new chic, Bohemian!Bohemian is a popular style for home design and fashion. It reflects a free-spirited lifestyle with little rules, except to follow your hearts desire, quite literally, putting your soul into your space! When you walk into a home that has a bohemian design style you immediately feel immersed in another culture. Souvenirs from travels are displayed and the whole vibe feels very eclectic. Bohemian homes may include vintage furniture and light fixtures, and pieces that possess ethnic or nomadic vibes. Moroccan, Southwestern, or tribal-inspired designs, globally inspired textiles and rugs, displays of collections, and items found in widely varied sources including local antique markets. A variant, boho-chic loves textile, wood, animal hide, and metallic accents. It’s not uncommon to find floor pillows and plushy seating spaces when incorporating the bohemian style. A subtle boho atmosphere puts an emphasis on nature. However, it’s very common to find bold patterns and bright colors for furniture and accents, likewise, mixing patterns and using things in unconventional ways are highly encouraged. The key is to carefully present a purposefully “carefree” look. Don't hesitate to layer on textiles (throws, pillows, rugs, tapestry) for a cozy ambience to capture the adventurous spirit of the avant-garde lifestyle. Anthropologie offers a great variety for Boho-chic home pieces in USA, and Zara Home is a great international example. When we compare different design styles Bohemian is one of the few where order isn’t necessary. There’s a laissez-faire spirituality where anything goes as long as you love it, so don't be afraid to think outside the box! 2. Male Artsies' Choice: Virile and unpolished, Industrial!While one may argue that industrial interior design is not common, it does have a past. With raw and unpolished elements, as the name implies, Industrial style draws its inspiration from the turn-of-the-century industrial era buildings. When factories in the west Europe were shut down at the end of the second industrial revolution, it left many large vacant warehouses behind. With the population boom, people started to convert industrial areas into residential neighbourhoods.
There’s a sense of unpolished rawness in many of the elements, and it’s not uncommon to see exposed pipes and beams. The style emphasises liberal use of steel with distressed wooden elements, frequently complemented by exposed walls. Materials like brick and concrete are great at giving the space a lot of character. In terms of atmosphere, industrial decor is often rustic and mature. Furniture is often raw or unfinished and paired with antiques. Tufted Chester sofas, rustic coffee tables, old timber, high ceilings, metal light fixtures with sparse functional furniture are enough to describe the art of this style. With a neutral colour scheme derived from the primary materials of wood and metals, the modern form commonly employs copper-tone accents. In USA, Restoration Hardware is a go-to source for higher-end industrial designs, and in Turkey, Pera Bulvarı is a very popular choice. Industrial style's manly tendencies are tamed with the use of ample texture. You won’t use the words “soft” or “intimate” used when describing this unique interior design style, on the contrary, its power comes from its virile character, all contributing to a space that feels like it was just renovated from a former industrial warehouse. Which style would be your choice? Let me know in the comments. Until then, stay Artsy!✨
Hello Artsies! I am sure that one of the biggest dreams of any of us is to finally have our own house, a dream house! Imagine living in your dream house you can freely design and decorate your own way and make it reflect your soul within. But what will your dream house look like, which style it will adapt? I asked you this question last week from my social media accounts, and the results are just in, and they are indeed very interesting!
According to the results, we see a clear differentiation in terms of interior design style between the men & women participants.
For the female artsies, Bohemian style, which favors layers of lush textiles, bold patterns, vibrant colors, and free-spiritedness at heart is the most preferred with approx. 43%. Considering some feminine aspects such as macramé woven planters, handwoven Moroccan rugs, or Malian mudcloth pillows, this style is the most preferred comes as no surprise. Eclectic style earns 2nd place, with its artistic, creative, and rich details. Although at times tough to characterize because it makes use of a little bit of everything—that's where its magic lies— and the female artsies seem to be enjoying it! At the 3rd place, Traditional style stands with its silk, velvet, and linen details featuring floral, striped, and plaid patterns. Considering the "girly elements", this style too proves that the feminine details and color palettes play an important role in women's preferred styles.
When we look at the male artsies' results, we see a clear winner with 41 votes, the Industrial style. With oversized artworks, exposed steel with distressed wooden elements, raw/unfinished furniture combined with copper-tone accents, you won't hear the words "soft" or "intimate" used when it comes to describing this unique style. The Industrial interior design style loves the raw and virile details that bring masculinity to space which might explain why it was the 1st place in male artsies' preferences. The 2nd place is a tie between Scandinavian and Modern styles, which have some similar elements when it comes to the sleekness and simple color palettes. Modern style brings clean and crisp lines that employ a sense of simplicity in every element, while Scandinavian style has some distinctiveness which seems to attract male artsies, such as the usage of natural materials, thinking light, airy and organic. Modern and Nordic spaces give off a relaxing and inviting vibe which might be preferred by men who do not want the brute elements of the industrial style, on the contrary, want to feel sophisticated and relaxed.
Overall, although there are exceptions, it wouldn't be wrong for me to say that the dream house interior design styles of men & women differ heavily with respect to feminine & masculine characteristics attributed with that style. While one style is a top choice in one gender, for the other, it might be the least preferred, Bohemian and Industrial styles are a great example of this. The results of the survey and my analysis afterwards is exactly why I think that the interiors have a soul within and reflects its owner's personality and character.
In my next post, I will go into further details of the most popular 2 interior design styles as an inspiration to help you reflect your soul in your space! Until then, stay artsy! ✨ |