Nil Baydar: Ottoman calligraphic art panels: structure and conservation.

The expression "Calligraphy is a spiritual geometry, created by materialistic equipments" which appears in Islamic sources, emphasizes the importance of art besides the didactic quality of calligraphy. Five months of work were needed for the conservation of ninety calligraphic art panels between the end of 2009 and the beginning of 2010, performed in the Turkish Foundation Calligraphic Arts Museum. In this project, the calligraphic art panels, created from the famous calligraphers by using different techniques, are evaluated.

Panels can be evaluated in different groups according to its carriers and calligraphy designs. In this paper, the traditional techniques concerning the creation of Ottoman calligraphic panels, which were created by using paper applied to paper, cardboard and wood, will be discussed. Furthermore, the conservation procedures, which were performed in the Vakıf Calligraphic Arts Association Museum, will be analysed with samples.