Zanaat

Zanaat is a Turkish noun meaning crafts, handicrafts, and artisanal work. It refers to skilled manual production and the body of traditional and contemporary craft practices used to make functional or decorative objects. In Turkish usage, zanaat is often contrasted with industrial manufacturing and is used to describe both individual craftspeople and the craft economy more broadly. The term has historical roots in Ottoman Turkish and is related to Persian and Arabic terms for art and technique, emphasizing skill and workmanship.

Disciplines commonly grouped under zanaat include carpentry, metalworking, ceramics and pottery, glassmaking, leatherworking, textiles, jewellery, and decorative arts. Traditional zanaat was organized around esnaf, or guilds, that regulated training, quality, and market access. Industrialization and urban migration in the 19th and 20th centuries led to changes in these practices, with many crafts adapting or declining, while others persisted in rural communities and in urban design studios.

In the modern era, zanaat encompasses heritage preservation as well as innovative design. Governments, cultural organizations, and NGOs support training programs, craft centers, cooperatives, and fair-trade networks to sustain skills and livelihoods. Market channels include museums, handicraft markets, tourist centers, online marketplaces, and exports that target both domestic and international audiences. Notable Turkish crafts include ebru (paper marbling), çini (Iznik tile painting), kilim weaving, wood and metalwork, ceramics, and leather goods.