Centuries-old books restored by Western Thracian bookbinder
Books that have passed from hand to hand across different geographies over centuries, often suffering damaged bindings and torn pages, are being given a new lease of life at the bookbinding workshop of the Istanbul Research and Education Center (İSAR).
Kalenci, a Western Thracian master and former student of the late renowned bookbinder İslam Seçen, has been carrying out restoration work at the specialized workshop since its establishment in 2017. He has restored more than 1,000 works to date.
The world's largest shiraze: A monumental work with 99 columns
One of the most striking works featured in the exhibition is a monumental shiraze project specially prepared by Kalenci for the event. The work is described as the largest of its kind in the world.
Produced entirely using traditional braiding techniques, the project required approximately 2,000 meters of thread. Reflecting Kalenci's painstaking craftsmanship, the work consists of 99 shiraze columns, created as a reference to the 99 names of Allah.
Exhibition opened with President Erdoğan in attendance
The "A Tribute to the Book: The Art of Bookbinding and Restoration" exhibition was inaugurated by President of the Republic of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at Tophane-i Amire in Istanbul as part of Eksim Holding's 40th anniversary celebrations.
The opening ceremony was attended by the Minister of Industry and Technology, the Minister of Culture and Tourism, the Minister of Family and Social Services, the Governor of Istanbul and several members of parliament.
Restored and awaiting-restoration works displayed together
The exhibition brings together 40 rare books that have undergone restoration alongside works donated by Prof. Dr. Hayrettin Karaman that are still awaiting conservation.
Among the works on display are Muhyiddin Ibn Arabi's 500-year-old "Fusus al-Hikam," Sheikh Galib's "Divan," the 200-year-old "Marifetname," Ibn Khaldun's "Muqaddimah" and a 200-year-old handwritten Mushaf.
Six months to restore a single book
Kalenci said the most challenging restoration he has undertaken involved a legal book used in Ottoman-era military schools that had deteriorated to the point of almost turning into dust.
The restoration took approximately six months and was completed through a painstaking series of stages, including damage assessment, cleaning, paper restoration, sewing the gatherings and repairing the book's covers.
Preserving traditional craftsmanship for future generations
Kalenci noted that the İSAR Bookbinding Workshop, established in 2017, conducts not only restoration work but also educational activities aimed at passing the traditional craft of bookbinding on to younger generations.
Emphasizing the importance of training new practitioners, Kalenci said the continuation of the craft depends on transferring his knowledge to future generations. He currently has three groups of students who have been training for approximately three years, two years and one and a half years, respectively.
He stressed that his greatest priority is to ensure that the craft survives through the students he is training, expressing hope that they will eventually carry the tradition forward.
