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“Mehmet the Son of Devaklı
Abdülaziz.” Another mystery on
the structure is that it consists of
6666 pieces of interlaced ebony,
which are equal to number of
verses in Quran. Apart from the
minbar of Grand Mosque, some
adornments at Yeşil Mosque
and Green Tomb are decorated
with most beautiful kündekari
examples. Emir Sultan Tomb,
which was reconditioned a few
months ago, and Muradiye
Külliye are other buildings to host
works of kündekari art. Kündekari
carvings at 600 year-old Emir
Sultan Tomb are repaired by 5
present masters and regained
their original, fascinating beauty.
Some examples of the handicraft,
which can be found all around
the city, are in Muradiye Külliye,
which is known as “Topkapı of
Bursa.” For instance, the double
door of Cem Sultan Tomb in the
Külliye comprises flower and leaf
motifs; these elegant Kündekari
works accompany the iron arcs
and reliefs.
This unique art is still extant
in cultural heritages that
carry the memories of Bursa
into the future. Kündekari is
actually a “joinery technique
with decorative purposes”. It
is made of hard walnut trees,
without using any nail or
bonding agent, only interlacing
geometric pieces. Apart from
its aesthetic value, it is robust
and can survive for centuries
thanks to this meshing method.
Kündekari reached its peak
during Seljuk era; nevertheless,
its history dates back to much
earlier times. It began in the
Middle East before reaching, by
means of Seljuks, to Anatolia,
where it enjoyed its heyday.
Kündekari is a product of endless
patience, labour and incredible
genius. Ottoman wood carvings
are famous for plainness; one
can easily observe traces of
this handicraft on architectural
elements such as mosque
gates, minbars, cabinet doors,
preaching pulpits and windows.
For interiors, Kündekari often
employed walnut, pear and
cherry trees, as well as valuable
materials such as ivory, silver,
mother-of-pearl and ruby; for
interiors, the materials were
chosen so as to resist any
weather conditions, for example,
