Parchment, made by processing goat hides as an alternative to papyrus in the second century BC, has deep roots in Bergama.
Apprentices trained by the late Ismail Araç, one of the last traditional “karatabak” masters in Bergama, are keeping the ancient art of parchment-making alive in Türkiye and abroad using methods passed down by their master.
Parchment, made by processing goat hides as an alternative to papyrus in the second century B.C., has deep roots in Bergama. Araç, who died at the age of 93 on May 28, devoted his life to preserving the craft and training a new generation of artisans.
Araç was included in Türkiye’s National Inventory of Living Human Treasures in 2021 and received the “Living Human Treasures: Representatives of Heritage Transmitted to the Future” award in 2022.
Known as one of the last “karatabak” masters, Araç produced parchment for decades using natural materials and traditional techniques without chemicals. His apprentices are now continuing the craft in workshops in Türkiye and abroad.
Meltem Demirel, 36, one of Araç’s apprentices who turns parchment into a medium for writing and artwork at her workshop in Bergama, said they were committed to preserving their master’s legacy.
She described parchment-making as a difficult and labor-intensive process.
“We soak goat hides in lime and leave them there. After they have been soaked, we remove the hair and leave the hides to dry. Then the parchment emerges. We use it to create artworks and fulfill orders based on photographs. Parchment is actually an immortal paper, a living paper. It breathes. It is a beautiful memory that lives with you throughout your life,” Demirel said.
She added that they also welcome tourists from different countries and demonstrate the parchment-making process to visitors.
A campaign has been launched to transform a recently restored tannery building in Bergama into a Parchment Museum and name it after Araç. Demirel said the digital petition had collected 6,500 signatures.
“We, the Bergama parchment family, support this campaign. We would very much like to see our master’s name preserved in such a place,” she said.
Demirel recalled Araç’s words that his greatest legacy was not the parchment he had produced but the apprentices he had trained.
Keeping parchment alive in Britain
Demet Tokbay, a parchment maker and designer living in Britain, is also continuing the craft there.
Tokbay said her aim was to demonstrate that parchment is a value originating from Bergama and that the tradition continues to survive in the modern world.
“Fortunately, after our master Ismail, we are here as the apprentices he trained. We are all trying to do our part to ensure that this craft is not forgotten,” she said.
Tokbay said Bergama and parchment had not yet received the recognition they deserved and that the planned museum could help raise awareness of the tradition.
Hazel Aymaz, 41, another of Araç’s apprentices, said she was deeply impressed by the atmosphere of his workshop and his approach to working with leather.
She said Araç took a keen interest in his apprentices and was delighted to see them carry on the craft.
Aymaz added that Araç had later signed an “icazetname,” a traditional certificate of authorization, for her. She said she is now recognized by the Culture and Tourism Ministry as a bearer of intangible cultural heritage and considers the certificate from her master equally valuable.
