Interior. Late-Ottoman traditional urban style, around 1900.
The cushions on the sofa (they are called ‘yastık’) are recent work. They are still produced in large quantities, both by carpet production centers and on house looms, for local use and to be sold to tourists as small souvenir rugs. On the floor: an old(er) flat-woven carpet, called ‘kilim’, from ‘Yörük’ origin (semi-nomadic Turks raising livestock).

In the center of the room stands an ‘ibrik’, which is a traditional vessel used to pour water with, so that guests could wash their hands before eating. The water poured was caught in the large dish below; a second attendant would than provide a tower. The ibrik and its dish are made of tinned copper.

Correspondent: J.M.Criel, Antwerpen.