He tells of architecture, calligraphy, woodworking, and earthenware, but lays particular emphasis on the brilliant, underglaze-painted ceramics of Kutahya and the rich, piled carpets for which Turkey has been famed for centuries. While searching for the traits that define art and the stylistic complexities that characterize Turkish creativity, Glassie focuses on the artists and their theories and practices as well as the works they produce.

From fleece, yarn, and dyeing to looms and weaves, the visual language, tribal weavers, and meaning, origins, and aesthetics of the kilim, this book provides an ideal and up-to-date summary of the subject.