Stones of the Grand Bazaar

From cultural heritage to inspired contemporary jewelry, this book is a journey into the ateliers of the master artisans in the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul.

This lavishly illustrated book provides an intriguing glimpse inside the luminous world of Fatma Altinbas, an anthropology professor and the creative mind behind the heritage jewelry brand Meváris. Born into a family of gold merchants, she had the privilege of growing up with the Grand Bazaar, immersed in the wonderfully rich history of Istanbul. Her distinctive approach as an academically minded entrepreneur is to marry the city's legacy of impeccable craftsmanship with new and alluring contemporary designs.

This book is a celebration of the magnificent city of Istanbul and this designer's relationship with her creative culture. From the floral motifs in Ottoman kaftans to the enduring Byzantine architectural marvels, the beautiful imagery traces the historical and contemporary influences that have shaped the unique artistic vision guiding Meváris's exquisite jewelry creation. It offers unique aesthetic reinterpretations of Istanbul's heritage and its renowned Grand Bazaar through a celebration of past and present, and the colors and cultural wealth of the contemporary city.The author of this delightfully opulent book is also a cultural anthropologist and a sociology lecturer, and she applies these fields to her narrative. In her erudite ode to the storied Turkish metropolis, Altýnbaþ takes readers on a fascinating journey through vibrant markets and colorful interiors, highlighting how the beautifully crafted ornaments she’s known since childhood have found their way into her contemporary jewels." —RAPAPORT MAGAZINE

"Equal parts travelogue, memoir, and fancy jewelry coffee-table book, it’s a celebration of the colors and cultural riches of Istanbul, with a particular focus on the Grand Bazaar, where generations of jewelry artisans have been honing their crafts for centuries." —JCKONLINE

"In addition to the historical aspect of the Grand Bazaar, the reader is treated to a vast and extensive history of Istanbul and Turkey itself. Actual photos or historical reproductions accompanying the text are lush, as is the telling of its history, as are its many artisanal offerings." —NEW YORK JOURNAL OF BOOKSFatma Altinbas was raised in Istanbul. She graduated in international relations from Bilkent University in Ankara and later completed her MBA in Milan. She holds a Ph.D. in cultural anthropology with research on the master artisan jewelers of the Grand Bazaar, and lectures in sociology at the Altinbas University in Istanbul.