Lonely Planet İstanbul Guide

İstanbul produces some unique glasswork, a legacy of the Ottoman Empire’s affection for this delicate and intricate art. Paşabahçe shops around the city sell attractive glassware that is mass produced at its factory on the upper Bosphorus. INLAID WOOD Local artisans make jewellery boxes, furniture and chess and backgammon boards that are inlaid with different-coloured woods, silver or mother-of pearl. Make sure the piece really does feature inlay. These days alarmingly accurate decals exist. Also check the silver: is it really silver, or does it look like aluminium or pewter? And what about that mother-of-pearl? It is in fact ‘daughter-of-polystyrene’? JEWELLERY İstanbul is a wonderful place to buy jewellery, especially pieces made by the city’s growing number of artisans creating contemporary pieces inspired by local culture. You’ll find great examples around and inside the Grand Bazaar, and in Beyoğlu and Nişantaşı. SHAWLS Those keen on buying a shawl should be aware of the difference between a pashmina and a shahtoosh. Pashminas use cashmere from Himalayan goats that is blended with silk, whereas shahtooshs are woven from the hair of the endangered Tibetan antelope. Antelope wool is usually obtained after the animal’s death, so we believe that shahtoosh purchase should be avoided. Neither bear any resemblance to the cheap, faux pashminas that are sold by stores in the Grand Bazaar, which are made from synthetic fibre. TEXTILES Turkey’s southeast region is known for its textiles, and there are examples aplenty on show in the Grand Bazaar. You can also find top-quality cotton, linen and silk there.