Örnek

Örnek is a national Crimean Tatar ornament, one of the highest and oldest cultural achievements of the Crimean Tatar people. In 2021, it was inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Örnek usually consists of combined small elements, mostly floral and geometric, arranged both symmetrically and asymmetrically.

Geometric ornaments dominate in weaving, due to the peculiarities of the technique. For example, one of the oldest and most widespread motifs is a rhombus, which is called köbek in the Crimean Tatar language. It literally means “navel” and symbolises the female womb, fertility and prosperity.

Floral ornaments are typical for embroidery, stone carving, and jewellery. Common signs symbolise people, phenomena and things. For example, gül (rose) means a married woman, quman (jug) means home, mother’s womb, and the source of life.

Servi (cypress) symbolises a man; yüzüm (grapes) – abundance and fertility; badem (almond) – a girl; egri dal (vine) – flexibility, ability to develop.

The arms on the sides symbolise strength, loyalty, protection, power; üçköşe (triangle) – the earth, the basis of existence, the house; lâle (tulip) – a man.

Plants are always depicted in unusual colours. For example, you can see a green flower with orange leaves. The purpose of this technique is to emphasise the symbolism of the image rather than its realism, as Islam does not approve of depicting real objects.

Sources:

1. «Союз тюльпана і троянди: знайомимося з мистецтвом орьнеку».

2. «Орьнек – кримськотатарський орнамент та знання про нього».

3. “Ornek, a Crimean Tatar ornament and knowledge about it”.

4. «Орьнек – кримськотатарський орнамент та знання про нього».

Article by Mariia Dudnyk, Daria Piskun, Olena Sudak, Mamure Chabanova