Gelin Hazineleri Exhibition Brings Ottoman Trousseaus to Abu Dhabi
Olgunlaşma Institutes' bridal textiles are on show at Manarat Al Saadiyat until 27 October.
The Gelin Hazineleri exhibition, a showcase of Ottoman and Anatolian bridal trousseaus, is on view in Abu Dhabi until 27 October. Drawn from the collections of the Olgunlaşma Institutes and held under the patronage of Emine Erdoğan, it is the show’s third international stop. Visitors can see bridal clothing and accessories that reflect centuries of Turkish handcraft.
The full title is “Gelin Hazineleri: Osmanlı ve Anadolu Çeyizlerinde Bir Yolculuk”, or “A Journey in Ottoman and Anatolian Trousseaus”. The venue is the Manarat Al Saadiyat Art Center in the capital of the United Arab Emirates, according to Sabah. Turkish reports say the exhibition opened in October, and it closes soon.
What the Gelin Hazineleri exhibition shows in Abu Dhabi
Sabah describes the bridal clothing and accessories as one of the most visual parts of the show. The selection includes 50 bridal outfits. They range from Ottoman palace fashion to some of Anatolia’s long-established wedding customs.
A further 64 accessories complete the display. Sabah singles out three kinds of object that draw particular interest from visitors:
- silk pouches made in the 19th century to hold a bride’s marriage document;
- Mardin headdress ornaments set with turquoise and ruby;
- traditional “karanfil kolyeler”, or clove necklaces.
Why the trousseau tradition matters
A çeyiz is the set of household textiles, clothing and keepsakes a bride prepares before her wedding. In Anatolia, families and especially women often spent years making these items by hand. Embroidery, weaving and needlework turned the trousseau into a record of local skill and taste.
The Olgunlaşma Institutes are Turkish public vocational schools that teach and preserve traditional crafts. Their collections explain why such an exhibition can travel. Fabrics, jewellery and ornaments show how regional styles developed, even when no written record survives.
A tour that began in New York and St. Petersburg
Abu Dhabi follows New York and St. Petersburg. Turkish media reported that the St. Petersburg leg was held at the Hermitage Museum. For viewers of Turkish period dramas, the show offers a real-world look at the costume and craft traditions that series often evoke. A drama’s wardrobe is a creative interpretation, however, and the museum pieces are the better guide to what was actually made and worn.
The Abu Dhabi presentation ends on 27 October, so the window to visit is very short.
Source: Sabah
Featured image: DHA | Demirören Haber Ajansı
