Handcrafts

Handcraft has a considerable place in Samsun’s culture.  However, as in our country, in Samsun handcrafts has been defeated by developing technology and industry. So, part of handcraft that is a factor of traditional culture has been lost, degenerated or changed.   Handcrafts like carpet, rug and fabric weaving, stonemasonry, needlepoint, shoemaking, copper crafts, wickerwork, basket knitting, socks and waistband knitting, xylography etc. have been determined as strugglers to survive despite all negativity. Today rarely, in some of the villages the production of some these are made either for use or in need. 

Traditional handcraft is the reflector of a country’s culture level and represents its cultural character. It is known that traditional Turkish handcraft is an important transmitter of the people’s emotions and artistic inclination. Handcraft as a cultural factor reflects the society’s living standards, sense and the characteristics of the term they were created. In other words, they reflect societies’ history.  Traditional handcraft that could reach today are the ones that were formed according to the social structure, that have had regional characters; have been carrying ethnographical values, have been artistic and useful; produced, used, traded by the public and that’s production earn money today.

1.Alaçam 

Under the circumstance that, materials are wood, reed and wool, Alaçam people have become master on rug weaving, wickerwork and woodwork. 

2.Bafra

Basket 

It is a local handcraft that was widely known especially until 20 years before in Göltepe Village. However, it is sinking into oblivion today. The materials that are used basket knitting are the reed, dried corn leaves, a jack-knifed and 50 cm steel wire as needle, sedge, fabric dye and natural dyes. Natural dyes are generally made of onion and green nut husks through boiling them. 

Knitting basket

Corn leaves are soaked and softened. One leaf is divided in to three equal parts vertically and rolled on the sedge. After it was rolled on the sedge as 8-10 cm, the rolled part is curved inward. The part that was firstly knitted is rolled from the middle. It is knitted at will. At the end of the leaf the needle is rolled. Dyed corn leaves are also used as figures within the basket. 

3.Vezirköprü

In Vezirköprü it is possible to come across with craftsmen who carry on the traditional handcraft such as saddlebag making, tea-urn making, ropery.

4.Ayvacık

 “Cecim”

When it is talked about handcrafts in Ayvacık, the first thing that come to minds “cecim” that is made of whole wool. The rugs used on the floor are called as “cecim” while it is also used to call the belts used by women and children. 

5.Ladik 

Ladik carries on handcrafts with Ladik weaving or Ladik flannel.

6.Yakakent

In the region rug weaving by using madder and hammock knitting are common. 

7.Çarşamba

The fame of Çarşamba Shoes has been spread to all Türkiye. Çarşamba cap has also been carrying on being produced. 

8.Havza

Waistband weaving, sculpturing, wooden toys craft and stone dressing are performed in the town.