Water and wire; A survey of watermarks found in manuscripts from the Ottoman empire and the paper trail between Europe and the empire between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries

Bayram, Rebecca (2020). Water and wire; A survey of watermarks found in manuscripts from the Ottoman empire and the paper trail between Europe and the empire between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries. University of Birmingham. M.Res.

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Abstract

The main topic of this research is the study of watermarks and paper in Ottoman manuscripts from the sixteenth to nineteenth centuries. The purpose of the project is to discover what types of papers were used by Ottoman merchants and high-ranking officials in the central government and provinces, which countries the papers were imported from and how a study of the trends in paper-use can correlate with cultural, economic and political contexts. An additional objective of this project was to explore the potential of the topic for further doctoral research. The project was conducted in archives in the United Kingdom, and consisted of surveying a select number of manuscripts, recording the watermarks in the paper and collecting data on specific paper characteristics. The most significant findings from this small exploratory study was that investigating paper and watermark evidence in Ottoman manuscripts can reveal patterns and trends of paper use. The results indicate that the Ottomans were concerned with what types of paper they used for specific purposes, particularly preferring a specific type of surface finish. The project highlights the potential of this study for future research and recommends avenues for further research that would be beneficial for the field of paper analysis, filigranology and Ottoman economic studies.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Masters by Research > M.Res.)

Award Type:

Masters by Research > M.Res.

Supervisor(s):