Kahramanmaraş Carved Dowry Chest

The Kahramanmaraş Carved Dowry Chest (Kahramanmaraş oyma çeyiz sandığı) is a traditional handicraft product made in Kahramanmaraş province, primarily from walnut wood, distinguished by its unique carving motifs and production techniques.

The Kahramanmaraş Carved Dowry Chest falls into the category of handicraft products, specifically within the group of carved wooden items. It has been registered as a "mahreç işareti^【1】 " (Protected Geographical Indication - PGI) by the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office. The registration of the Kahramanmaraş Carved Dowry Chest documents that the product's reputation and characteristics, such as the walnut wood material, traditional adhesives like "mercimek tutkalı" (lentil glue), unique hand-carving techniques, and historically diverse motifs, are identified with the Kahramanmaraş region.

^{The Kahramanmaraş Carved Dowry Chest (created with artificial intelligence)}

The Kahramanmaraş Carved Dowry Chest is differentiated from chests produced in other regions by its hand-carved craftsmanship and the materials used.

• Material: It is made from walnut wood. To prevent warping, the walnut wood is first dried if it is moist (green).
• Size and Shape: It is generally produced with 4, 6, or 8 corners and typically measures 100 cm (length) x 52 cm (width) x 63 cm (height).
• Joining Technique: Until the 1980s, the dovetail joint technique was used to join the sides of the chest. Later, machine-assisted joining began to be used.
• Adhesive: A glue made from a mixture of resin and bone powder, known locally as "mercimek tutkalı" (lentil glue), is used in its production.
• Carving Motifs and Design Varieties: Historically, it has featured different foot styles and carving intensities:
• • Düzayaklar (Plain Feet): 4-cornered, with carving motifs only on the lid or the center of the front face.
  • Ceylan Ayaklar (Gazelle Feet): 4, 6, or 8-cornered, with a motif carved in the center of each face.
  • Giydirme Ayaklar (Clad/Covered Feet): 4, 6, or 8-cornered, with carving motifs all over, and also usable as a coffee table.
• Appearance: No paint, different colors, pictures, or additional embellishments (stones, etc.) are used. The natural brown color of the wood is preserved through the application of wood preservative and varnish.

^{The Kahramanmaraş Carved Dowry Chest (created with artificial intelligence)}

1. Material Preparation: Walnut wood is cut to the desired dimensions and dried.
2. Model Determination and Cutting: The wood is cut according to the chosen model (e.g., Düzayaklar, Ceylan Ayaklar, Giydirme Ayaklar).
3. Carving Craftsmanship: The carving is entirely based on hand craftsmanship. Today, patterns may be drawn by machine, but the carving process is carried out by artisans using special hand-carving tools. In the past, unique handmade tools known as "tırnak," "oluk," and "kalem" were used; today, the range of tools used in wood carving has diversified according to size and function.
4. Assembly: The cut and carved pieces are assembled using the specified technique (traditionally dovetail joints or more modern methods) and "mercimek tutkalı."
5. Finishing: A wood preservative is applied to prevent woodworm infestation, and the chest is varnished. These processes bring out the natural brown color of the wood.

The application for the geographical indication registration of the Kahramanmaraş Carved Dowry Chest was filed by the Kahramanmaraş Metropolitan Municipality. The application was made on September 19, 2016, with the application number C2016/085. Following the evaluation process, the product was officially registered as a "mahreç işareti" (PGI) on December 26, 2017, with the registration number 305. The registrant's address is İsmetpaşa Mah. Azerbaycan Bulvarı No:25 Kahramanmaraş.