TÜRK KÜLTÜRÜNDE EYERLER
SADDLES IN TURKISH CULTURE

Summary/Abstract: As commonly known, leather work has an important place in handicrafts in Turkish culture. We see this in the leather handicrafts in Anatolia that have reached the highest artistic value from the simplest craftsmanship. One of these works, which has survived from prehistory and is still tried to be continued in various regions of Anatolia, is saddle production. Today, rich and ostentatious examples of Turkish saddles are exhibited in museums at home and abroad. While people use horses as both mounts and load carriers in daily life, they have also been used as war vehicles throughout history. In the historical process, while horses were tamed by people, first they were stamped, then belts and bridles were used, a saddle was placed on the tamed horse and thus, the horse was put to the service of humanity. In the steppes of Central Asia, horses were domesticated by the Turks and gained an identity in history. A nation that dominated the horse has sought ways to use it comfortably. It is known that learning traditional handicrafts is mostly done as a family profession. Saddle making is one of these professions. While people learn their professions from their masters, they also add other features to their art over time. Thus, the characteristic and originality of art emerges here. Saddle-making, which has developed within the framework of craft from the past to the present, is an important art that carries the rich heritage of Turkish society to the present. The geographical location of the Turks at the intersection of different geographies has enabled them to interact with many societies in the field of horse harness and saddle making. Turks, as a warrior society, have increased the importance of horse harnesses and military saddlery materials, thanks to the importance of horsemanship and militancy. In this study, the historical development of Turkish saddles from past to present has been examined and the place and importance of saddles in Turkish Culture has been emphasized.

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