OUR COLLECTION — ASIA — TURKEY 573. TRADITIONAL HOLY FAMILY
This handmade Nativity scene of the Holy Family features Joseph and Mary dressed in traditional Turkish clothing. The artisans are a woman named Mevlüde and a man named Zeki from Safranbolu, Turkey.
The figures are made from hardened polymer clay. Joseph carries a wooden walking stick. His white turban is called a sarik in Turkish. Mary wears a yellow scarf adorned with decorative coins around her face, called a çeki. Mary also wears a white head covering that has three different names (tülbent, yazma, and yemeni) depending on the Turkish region. Baby Jesus lies in a cradle made of wood. The Joseph figure measures 5.75 inches tall.
The Holy Family comes with a Turkish rug. Each rug has a unique pattern; the photo is only an example. The rug is machine-made and measures 6.25 by 4 inches. Nativity scenes from Turkey are very rare because the country’s population of 82 million is 99% Muslim.
The figures are made from hardened polymer clay. Joseph carries a wooden walking stick. His white turban is called a sarik in Turkish. Mary wears a yellow scarf adorned with decorative coins around her face, called a çeki. Mary also wears a white head covering that has three different names (tülbent, yazma, and yemeni) depending on the Turkish region. Baby Jesus lies in a cradle made of wood. The Joseph figure measures 5.75 inches tall.
The Holy Family comes with a Turkish rug. Each rug has a unique pattern; the photo is only an example. The rug is machine-made and measures 6.25 by 4 inches. Nativity scenes from Turkey are very rare because the country’s population of 82 million is 99% Muslim.