Tezhip in Germany

The Arabic term ‘tezhip’ literally means ‘gilding’ or ‘ornamentation’. It is the art of adorning manuscripts—often calligraphic works—with gold, gouache or ink, arranged in intricate patterns. Practitioners are known as müzehhib or müzehhibe.

Introduced to Anatolia from Central Asia, tezhip thrived during the Seljuk and Ottoman eras. The first imperial design workshop (nakışhane) was established under Sultan Mehmed II, with Baba Nakkaş as its chief artist.

The art reached a high point in the time of Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent, thanks largely to the master Kara Memi and the school he founded. Although interest waned in the early 20th century, numerous artists kept the discipline alive. In modern times, Prof. Dr. Süheyl Ünver played a vital role in reviving and institutionalizing tezhip education.

Tezhip traditionally embellishes important manuscripts—Qur'ans, hadith collections, poetry, archival documents and official decrees. Today it remains a cherished art form for enhancing both historic and contemporary works.