29.01.2026 16:52
Ertuğrul Şengünalp, who received the "Living Human Treasures" award from President Erdoğan, produces silk thread by running kilometers every day as the last representative of the 680-year-old devdahlik profession. Master devdah artisan Şengünalp stated, "It is impossible to produce thread without running 15-20 kilometers a day. When I stop, there will be no one to continue this art. If there is no support, a 680-year-old heritage will disappear with me."
Master craftsman Ertuğrul Şengünalp from Bursa, who received the "Living Human Treasures" award from President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, is the last name to keep the 680-year-old devdahlık profession alive, running kilometers every day to produce silk thread. The 60-year-old master Şengünalp has been tirelessly continuing this ancient handicraft, which is facing the danger of extinction worldwide, for 53 years.
Devdahlık is known as a nearly lost handicraft in the world today, where raw silk is transformed into thread using entirely human-powered methods. Şengünalp explains the difficulty of the profession with the words, "This art is a job where strong people produce by constantly moving as if they are running on wood. It is impossible to produce thread without running 15 to 20 kilometers a day."
"I STARTED AT 7, I COULDN'T REACH THE LOOM"
Şengünalp was introduced to devdahlık at the age of 7. While recounting his first days as an apprentice beside his father, he says, "I couldn't reach the loom. We put soda crates under me and placed wood. My father said, 'Come on, son,' and introduced me to this art."
RUNNING AT LEAST 6 HOURS FOR 700 GRAMS OF THREAD
Still at the same loom today, Şengünalp works by running for hours, connected to the 24 hooks on the loom during production. To obtain approximately 700 grams of thread, he moves continuously for at least 6 hours a day.
SILK BOILS IN POTS, COLORS COME TO LIFE
Production is not limited to running. Şengünalp states that the threads are boiled in pots with olive oil soap on weekends, saying, "This process cleans the sericin left from the silkworm's cocoon. After about two hours of boiling, the thread reaches its natural color."
The master, who says that approximately 25-30 percent of the thread is lost in this process, notes that the threads are then dyed according to a special color chart consisting of 320 different colors, stating, "The produced silk threads are used by public education centers, maturation institutes, and artisans dealing with handicrafts."
EFFORT REACHING JAPAN
Although the art of devdahlık has succumbed to technology, the threads produced by Şengünalp are still in demand from abroad. Noting that these threads are used in traditional handicrafts in Japan, Şengünalp says, "Our threads are included in the works that the Japanese call 'Inoye.' This shows that labor knows no boundaries."
RECEIVED AN AWARD FROM ERDOĞAN
Ertuğrul Şengünalp has been representing Bursa at various festivals and fairs as an artist of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism for 12 years. Nominated for the "Living Human Treasures" award, Şengünalp received his award from President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at a ceremony held in Ankara.
Emotionally recounting this moment, Şengünalp says, "It was an indescribable feeling. But I especially want to say this: I did not receive this award; Bursa did. Bursa's silk industry won."
"WITHOUT SUPPORT, THE 680-YEAR-OLD HERITAGE WILL DISAPPEAR WITH ME"
Emphasizing his desire to pass on the art of devdahlık to new generations, Şengünalp made a call for support. The master states that municipalities and public institutions need to extend a hand for this art to survive, saying, "When I leave, there will be no one to continue this art. Without support, a 680-year-old heritage will disappear with me."
Şengünalp also thanked Erkan Aydın, the Mayor of Osmangazi, who visited and supported him, saying, "The survival of this art is very important for Bursa. What makes me truly happy is the recognition of this value."