One reason why I first went to this city was to meet Mr. Gürsoy, who's name I had come across in a book, Turkish Traditional Art Today, by Glassie. He was on the front page also, carrying a huge plate that I liked a lot. I found him, and I have often returned to his shop to buy increasingly many plates. In his shop I took many pictures of the process of making those great plates and other earthenware objects.

When I returned in 2008 the shop had moved once again. There now is a centre where most of the makers of çini are grouped together. A fish restaurant in its front was still under construction. The centre is not quite on the edge of town, about half a mile before the otogar. The advantage will be that you can compare the works of many çiniçi.

This is Mehmet Gürsoy with one of his plates.