The Traditional Handicraft Art Of Marash Armenians

In the Armenian city of Marash, Cilicia, Historical Armenia, Armenians were not only proficient in handicraft but also had their own secrets of traditional ornaments, patterns, and other compositions.

Handmade patterns of Marash had their own drawings and colors. The names of these works varied, and some of them were household items, while others had a more mystical purpose. Although the creations of Armenian masters primarily served as household items or dowries, they were also intended for export.

In the Marash region, the production of textiles and fabrics and related embroidery was considered an industry. Men were engaged in the processing of cotton raw materials and their conversion into fibers. However, in painting and other jobs, women and men participated equally.

No matter the job, dyes were obtained mainly from plant, mineral, and animal sources. Coloring materials of chemical origin appeared later.

For all Armenians, embroidery is a piece of family memories. The tradition of embroidery passed down from generation to generation and was sometimes taught in schools.

The disappearance of Armenian artisans from the region as a result of the deliberate extermination of the Armenian population of Historical Armenia from 1894 to 1923 had a great influence on this craft industry. However, the influence of Armenian crafts and art is still in the memory of the inhabitants of the city of Marash of Historical Armenia. The cultural heritage left by the Armenians is still felt on this earth as well.

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