Ebru (Turkish marbling)

The ebru artist fills a wide tray with water thickened with a plant gum called kitre. Natural pigments mixed with ox gall are sprinkled onto the surface with horsehair brushes. They float and spread, and the artist moves them with awls and combs to form patterns.

A sheet of paper is laid on the finished pattern and lifted carefully, taking the picture with it. Every ebru is unique, since a pattern on water can never be made the same way twice; floral designs with tulips and carnations are especially loved.

In Ottoman times ebru was used for bookbindings, documents and the borders of calligraphy panels. "Ebru, Turkish art of marbling" was inscribed on UNESCO's intangible heritage list in 2014.