Yaş:

51

City/ District:

İstanbul / Fatih

Phone:

0 (542) 468 75 68

E-mail:

tribal-arts@hotmail.com

Web:

https://antikahalitamiri.net/

Ramazan Yumuşak is a traditional craftsman specializing in the restoration of antique carpets, kilims, and silk rugs. Born in 1973, he has been practicing this profession since 1986. His late grandfather, Bekir Ayhan—who learned carpet restoration from Armenian masters—is recognized as one of the first three Turkish artisans to enter this field in Türkiye. In 1975, his family moved to Istanbul, where his father, trained under his grandfather, later opened his own workshop. Yumuşak’s older brothers also entered the profession; one moved to Austria and the other to Japan. In 1986, his late father pulled him out of school to teach him the craft. His brother in Japan has continued this work there for nearly 40 years, while his elder brother has since returned and retired. After his father's passing in 1993, Yumuşak took over the family workshop and has continued working in Istanbul ever since. He has been officially recognized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye as a "Bearer of Intangible Cultural Heritage / Traditional Handwoven Carpet and Kilim Restoration Artist." He also holds the “Mastery Certificate” and the “Master Instructor Certificate” awarded by the Ministry of National Education. To preserve authenticity in antique rugs, he reuses threads unraveled from old kilims during the restoration process. In addition to his local work, Yumuşak has restored pieces for collectors in the United States and Europe. In 2007, he met Hans Christian Sienknecht, one of the three authors of a rare antique carpet catalogue of which only 300 copies were printed worldwide. Yumuşak restored many of the carpets featured in this catalogue, which includes rugs aged between 80 and 200 years. He continues to practice and preserve this traditional art form today.