Journal of Art History

Abstract

Zeytinköy, a mountain village located in the Yatağan district of Muğla, stands out with its traditional houses and wooden ornaments. It contains examples of rural architecture that are highlighted by its geography and socio-economic structure.
In this study, which examines the wooden decorations of Zeytinköy houses within the context of Turkish house tradition, the wooden ornaments on the exterior and interior facades of the houses are discussed. Particularly on the exterior, ornaments are concentrated on elements such as window bars, window lattices, room entrance doors and interior elements such as closets, chests, flower holders, bömbelik, water storage boxes, shelves, oven doors, and Quran stands.
Depending on where wooden ornamentation is used, construction techniques such as nailing-embedding, and joining are used, while openwork, carving-relief and engraving techniques are applied in terms of ornamentation techniques. The sections surrounding the table and panels on door frames and wings are made of pine wood, while chestnut, mulberry and walnut trees are preferred in the motifs on the wing surface.
The wing surfaces of the room doors providing entry to the houses are divided into two or three sectioned panels. In addition to the wings, there are also the top and crown sections. The main composition in each divided panel is generally in the form of a passionflower, multi-armed star and diamond. Small panels in horizontal, vertical, and diagonal shapes are placed around the main motifs. Passionflowers with rosette designs are also used in some examples.
The window bars, window shutters and wings, which are among the interior elements of the house, are highly decorated, with the wings opening into the room. The wing surfaces are divided into horizontal and vertical panels. These panels contain ornaments in the forms of plants, geometric shapes, objects, and figures. It is noteworthy that coppersmiths are present in the region for handicrafts, and stylized versions of Kavaklıdere ewers, reflecting the local culture, are applied in various places. The motifs of gas lamps and lanterns symbolize light, radiance, and brightness. The entrance doors of the houses are interpreted as symbols of light and prosperity entering the home, representing the opening of a door from heaven. The motifs commonly featured include buds and blooming pine cone flowers, the Künar tree, slender twisted branches and leaves, cypresses, flowers coming out of vases, heart motifs, stars, rosettes, birds, and snakes.
As a result of the field studies, it is seen that the houses in Zeytinköy feature intensive use of wood, influenced by the geography and climate of the area. The houses, along with the village’s street layout, have remained well-preserved and solid until today. The ornamentations of the houses are unique to the region and stand out with their meanings. Many of the motifs used are in the form of stylized plant branches and flowers, object-based and figurative decorations specific to the region.
After the archive review was conducted, the fieldwork was carried out. The identified samples were examined on site and notes were taken in observation forms. The descriptions of the structures were discussed in detail with these notes. Additionally, detailed photographs of the wooden ornaments of the structures were taken and included in the article. It was learned during the field study that the craftsmen who made the ornaments of these original buildings passed away. There are no more craftsmen doing these works in the region. Therefore, the restoration of these structures and their ornamentation should be carried out while preserving them, and efforts should be made to ensure their transmission to future generations.