We have investigated all aspects of glass making in Istanbul over the last few days. We moved between a small studio that has just opened in the city centre to a company specialising in glass decoration, and then on to a stained glass and fusing studio, a glass workshop and finally to the local University. We spiced up our glass tour with a few tourist activities: Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cisterne as well as a few mosques, which made a happy mix.

Before we said our goodbyes to Yilmaz and his great glass making school, we visited a company specialising in glass decoration together with Heio Mück. They work for a variety of companies for which they add all kinds of embellishment to glass. Whether it’s small crystals for Swarovski, coloured decoration for Kosta Boda or various engraved pieces for the regional glass company Pasabahce.

Together with the group from ‘glass furnace’ we also visited the studio that Tulin Akgul has just set up in an old building in the centre of Istanbul. We then moved right into the heart of Istanbul and were able to stay with Ihsan, who attends a course at ‘glass furnace’. He gave us his keys so we could go off and explore from this ideal location. We found the MSÜ Faculty of Fine Arts and visited its glass and ceramics department. The Head of Department, Prof. Dr. Hasdemir is very cooperative and always interested in working with other European Universities, which leads to a lively exchange. You can not only study art here, but also Glass and Ceramic Design. They have recently acquired a very big glass printing machine which makes it possible to print images on sheet glass as if it was paper. Professor Hasdemir and his assistant Baris, also arranged for us to visit two further glass places: a glass fusing studio and the glass workshop Yakamoz, where we went on the last day of Ramadan, before the four day celebrations started and everything would be closed.

The stained glass and glass fusing studio Elde, run by Heyecan Bakir Ural, has been in business for 25 years and is spread over three floors. The glass workshop Yakamoz mainly produces lights and also offers lessons in glass making. The glass makers there gave us a very friendly welcome and obviously enjoyed our visit. We are now looking forward to our last few days and are slowly getting ready for our homecoming.