How A 92-Year-Old Saved The Ancient Craft Of Parchment-Making In Western Turkey | Still Standing

[@samerkaddoura2587]

Damn. For a 92 year old man, he looks better than most 70 year olds I have seen.

[@stevencooper4422]

I think he lied about his age 😅

[@mkseed9188]

My gramps was damn near 90 and he was just about as young looking as this fella.

[@MichaelHarto]

true that. men that don't stop working age much slower than men that retired early

[@TheEmeraldMenOfficial]

He looks like 65… I bet he’ll live past 100, if not longer!

[@senad707]

It’s something about that generation they live 100 , I’ve known a lady who was 100 and knew a lot and remembered but was not mobile as him. They worked out on house on field but that’s the key work. People pay money to go to exercise .

[@justaperson2247]

his energy at 92 for his crafts is inspiring me to be consistent for my coding skills....for 70 years...he is legend.. Turkiye plz take care of your living legend.

[@ozgurbozkurt5945]

Türkiye stop caring about these people. He is probably on his own. The current government is too busy robbing the people/country

[@virbhansali224]

Same!

[@piplup10203854]

It is really nice to see the apprentices becoming masters but still valuing the guidance and wisdom of Ismail and to call him Uncle is such a nice respect. I agree with her on whatever you put on parchment stays on it. Parchment is just a lovely medium to preserve our history that I do hope it stays. I'd love to see journals or planners get implemented with the leather work because a leather bound parchment paper planner or notebook is just so lovely to collect and write in. I personally love using fountain pens and dip pens to write/journal/draw etc so I'd love to see something like that :)

[@bergamaparsomenpergamonpar2495]

thank you

[@piplup10203854]

@@bergamaparsomenpergamonpar2495 you’re welcome 🥹

[@noface5745]

Actually we call all elderly people uncle or aunt, it is in our culture :D

[@Jazzgin]

Successful translation. That’s rare when it comes to Turkish. Bergama is the original place for parchement and the word is after the cities name, Pegamon or Pergamum. Sad to see only one master survives in this area but I know others from other regions. But this man is a true example of ikigai. He gives life to what he does and what he does gives him life in return. Thanks for highlighting another niche craft in Türkiye.

[@SpecialJay]

I've been there a number of times but wasn't aware parchment was made there. We are lucky to have parchment, its predecessor papyrus doesn't survive as well.

[@sophiaisabelle027]

These parchment makers consistently work hard no matter what. Rain or shine, they put their all.

[@hkntns]

The translation from Turkish to English is on point. Very good.

[@parkman29]

I noticed the translation was quite expressive. I don't even speak turkish and even I could tell it was good!

[@Samirustem]

2:58 its my bread and butter is not really accurate translations. Should be more along lines thats where i win my bread

[@TechsScience]

Mr Ismael you are a gem You kept alive the ancient tradition

[@CaseNumber00]

I believe, for a craft or trade like this that is timeless, governments should pay the wage and materials to keep producing as a cultural heritage. I have seen museums easily spend millions to safeguard artifacts but little to the people to make a dying craft.

[@bergamaparsomenpergamonpar2495]

Hello. We will continue to live within our means.

[@MISNM0]

Excellent idea

[@SearchingfortheTruth77]

Great idea!

[@quiestinliteris]

​@@bergamaparsomenpergamonpar2495 even if not for living, I feel there should be funding provided for the teaching. It would be wonderful if there could be a small school for this craft, just to be certain it isn't lost. It's always a dangerous place to be when there are only a few masters left and they all live in the same place.

[@bergamaparsomenpergamonpar2495]

@@quiestinliteris It is impossible to raise funds while living in this country. We are trying to survive and keep this art alive by our own means. Who knows, maybe we can move to another country in the future. this is dangerous for this place as you said. means killing an art or a craft.

[@MrLeoAtrox]

I'm very thankful for Insider Business highlighting historical methods like this. These little documentaries will be the record for future generations, and traditional processes like this, like silk, like soy sauce, shouldn't be lost.

[@spiinniing]

I was overjoyed to hear İsmail finally found enthusiastic apprentices to pass on this beautiful ancient traditional craft! There are few greater tragedies than knowledge lost to history. Let's hope the techniques of making parchment endure for 2,000 more years and onward!

[@momoneyy408]

Awhh!! You can hear his passion and love for parchment in his voice! I’m glad when his time comes he has left his history with the future ❤

[@freederth619]

bless this man, for a 92 year old he is more energetic than me at 32.

[@GurunathHirve]

Huge respect for this guy.

[@deetalashoma3514]

Bless you Ismail. It is hard to teach people that don't appreciate such labor. I too try to get the young interested in hand crafted items. I am Hopi - Native American. Again, Bless you Ismail, God has a special place for you in Heaven. 👍😁❤️

[@_Kyprioth_]

It is so beautiful that he has found people to confidently hand his craft over to! It’s sad that it took him so long, but it is beautiful that he can feel at peace for the rest of his life. He knows that his legacy, techniques and love of the craft will live on in people who are equally as passionate about it as he is! My grandfather started wood turning as a hobby due to starting a sawmill with his father in the 1950’s. Despite having 5 children, 17 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren, no one had learned the craft from him in which he is entirely self-taught. All of the tools he uses are entirely made by him also. He is 90 now and still works at the wood lathe regularly. I approached him several years ago and asked to learn his techniques from him. He had his reservations as he had always tried to teach the boys and they had given up. Since I am a girl and was already in my mid twenties, he definitely had his reservations about the idea. It’s been several years now and I am very honoured that he is able to say that he believes he has left his techniques in good hands! His sons and grandsons now own and run the sawmill (it’s strictly sustainable cypress pine milling with no clear-felling). So his techniques will be able to be passed on for years to come!

[@_Kyprioth_]

When I refer to the cypress pine milling as entirely sustainable, I am being completely honest. The mill actually has government contracts with all of the national forests here in Australia. The minister for environment and water has even visited them personally to hand-deliver a large government grant. The largest trees need to be cut down so that smaller ones can grow to take their place. My family is able to enter a national forest, select the trees that need to come down and leave the area appearing essentially untouched (minus the largest trees). They may not visit that specific area of forest again for a decade before assessing it again.

[@glorygloryholeallelujah]

I was so happy that he found dedicated apprentices, I cried! Hopefully they will find eager minds, willing to learn the craft in the next generation. ❤

[@bergamaparsomenpergamonpar2495]

thank you..

[@lilly__stein2174]

Looking at any hand making process from the past or doing anything myself I feel like I'm alive again n breathing fresh air our heavy industrial age. This is art 💝

[@silita6193]

thank you Ismail for sharing your gift to the world

[@craigm2484]

As a trapper taught by an oldman I appreciate the fletching on the wood block . 🙏🏻

[@raf.raf.]

Really glad he found some apprentices! Also, he looks fantastic for his age.

[@RealKungFu]

Wow! Imagine being in the year 1950 and finding a 92 year old Kung Fu master to apprentice with! 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@mengyang2327]

Hey I know you .

[@bloodlove93]

wait what? those are entirely separate. i had an uncle, died in his 80,s until that day,he ran his dojo himself, shining it's floor with any cocky kid who came by....yet this guys saying he has no strength? also... this is simple enough to learn almost everything you need from this one video. compared with martial arts? how many forms can correctly fit here? not enough. this man can die and have no successor for a thousand years and be fine, can't say that for many arts. this? can come back any time.

[@fireroc2]

@@bloodlove93 cringe

[@brydonthunder]

@@bloodlove93 The body falls apart rapidly as you approach your last years of life. a 92 year old has a lot left in them than a 80 year old to do physical labour.

[@rainnmoon114]

It's a shame no one wants to take up the craft. I find that the one thing the younger generation is missing is the joy of working with your hands and creating something wonderful. There's something special about making something as well as buying handmade items.

[@nandinhocunha440]

I don't blame them. There's cheaper alternatives

[@MayerAudax]

It's the fault of the older generations. They made mass-production a thing and we have to deal with it.

[@severalverysmallmangos]

Yeah, too bad youger generation loves being able to buy food and afford a house more 🙄🙄🙄

[@amimiami82]

Young generation still enjoys that. BUT. there are no places for them (as they grow up) to continue to do so. They need to tend to their studies otherwise they wont live a good life. Thus they focus on that and not art and stuff, which is held as a hobby. Go look at any socials; there are 100000 artists uploading their artpieces. But they cannot devote theur lives on it simply cause it doesnt make money. Personally, id rather keep its charm as a personal hobbu and not involve it in the stress of making money/ being a job and doing it for momey and not for myself

[@jamesvedder1143]

I'm 15 and my dad used to force me and my brother (a year older than me) to come outside and help him when we were around 9 or 10. We always groaned, having to get up from the computer and go outside to ultimately stand around watching him work just to occasionally go grab him something from his shop or whatnot. Now since I was about 12 I've taken every chance I could to go outside and do something in the shop and do some woodworking or welding. I find the problem with getting the so called "younger generations" to go outside and work with their hands is that they don't understand how fun it can be, and how good it feels to work on something for days or weeks just to fi ally finish it and feel that sense of accomplishment within yourself.

[@___beyondhorizon4664]

My favorite is the Morocco Fez tannery, also because I visited the tannery in April 2017. The tannery smell like pigeons poop 💩 but the chemical desolved the hairs naturally. The parchment paper story reminds me of how resourceful,hard working Turkish are. During my 3 weeks of traveling all over Turkey in July 2019, I saw how they solved daily needs issues in creative ways.

[@bergamaparsomenpergamonpar2495]

thank you..

[@hannahdurga3277]

He looks fantastic for 92! And he acts so young!

[@Stonerkiddd]

Beautiful really. I love seeing different ways of life and living. Really gives perspective

[@Stop4MotionMakr]

That's insane that he's actually 92. If I saw him on the street I'd put him no older than late 60s.

[@aresorum]

I'd probably have guessed 75-78.

[@nickq8093]

Routine, physical activity and mental engagement can keep us going for so much longer in life

[@tiffanylee3634]

May God bless this man, he was given a gift and found the right people to pass this craft on. I've never had the privilege of working or owning parchment but it looks beautiful and this video has brought me a new appreciation for it. May this gorgeous art continue for more centuries.

[@bergamaparsomenpergamonpar2495]

thank you..

[@glossaria2]

Respect. I'm so happy to learn he found someone to pass on his trade. If anything, disasters like the fire at Notre Dame have taught us how important it is to keep historical skills alive through the generations.

[@shreyanshshukla]

This is so astonishing. This has inspired me to work on my own passion as hard as ismail. This man's art and skill is truly admirable.

[@TaniaWelch]

At 92 and still working at a skilled profession, this artizan should be living in a mansion!! ...and like a king!! A master at his craft ,but still can't retire, How sad 😔 Great Sir I can only wish you well 🕊❤🙏

[@beztoop342]

So admire this man's skill and passion. Hope he can find someone to pass his knowledge to.

[@MaxS535]

Dude looks great for 92. Doesnt look a day over 80!

[@TheSimonpearse]

i though he was almost 100

[@crimegeek]

I hope these delicacies can keep On for every generation to have. The most important words are written on these. God bless this family and business. That old man is amazing to hold fast his tradition.

[@utej.k.bemsel4777]

Wow, my respect! I did some raw hide making and am really impressed!

[@khust2993]

Some virgin Japanese craftsman: "it takes a life time to master" Chad Ismail: "After five years, I learned the craft completely"

[@ShawnLH88]

virgin? chill

[@cooldud7071]

@@ShawnLH88 Considering how the Japanese are today, I don't think calling them virgins is necessarily wrong.

[@the_pawn_star]

Japanese craftsman are overrated and pretend like some craft takes lifetime but it takes maximum few years to master

[@NathanAEnver]

Yeah, the japanese are overrated... They make people believe their works are "very special" or "very authentic" by claiming their crafts takes 70yrs or something to learn, what a bs...

[@rockyjohnson9243]

Really happy he was able to find a couple who decided to learn his ways.

[@jrobbin24]

Much respect from USA 🇺🇸

[@deeptruthss]

it’s a shame his kids lost such a treasured skill. may he be rewarded for his work in this life and the next and that his kids will renew with that art even if rarely, just to pass on to the following generations.

[@waytothewill]

I see you have changed your translator for Turkish subtitles. Unlike the one in the pipe-making video, this linguist actually pulled off a good job. Teşekkürler! :)

[@modahabbab]

I agree with his apprentices, god bless Ismail. He seems so enthusiastic about his art and he wants to pass it to the younger generations, personally I think the art made with parchment looks naturally beautiful.

[@karakaaa3371]

I always thought parchment was just an old name for paper. Had no idea it was made from animal skins.

[@nadirunlu4479]

Thanks Uncle İsmail. God bless you.

[@blowbubbles72]

It would be a shame to let a craft like this die.

[@testnameplsignore6916]

Ellerine sağlık İsmail Amca. Hayırlı, bereketli işler 🤍🇹🇷

[@uchihaorga6656]

To learned he found apprentices and to know he left it in the right hands made me tear up and full of joy, this episode is my favorite one.

[@katep.1465]

Would be cool if there was a profession of learning dying skills from people like him and then teaching a successor or two. Like maybe they could be some kind of historians/museum staff that would get paid to do this. We could also film the whole process in extreme detail, step by step and write down instructions to preserve crafts.

[@censusgary]

“He never wears gloves.” I imagine Mr. Ismail’s hands are pretty thoroughly tanned after 70+ years of working with that stuff.

[@briefcasefullofbacon7291]

He's 100?? He looks fantastic.

[@thegamingwolf5612]

He is 92

[@briefcasefullofbacon7291]

@@thegamingwolf5612 Damn 100 years old.

[@nannerz1994]

I had no idea parchment was ever made from animals but looking at the final product, and if i think about parchment paper, it makes sense.

[@dontneedaname7170]

Nice to see people from turkey im also turkish thanks for showing this art

[@Ac-cl8iv]

I remember see this for the first time in 2020 and at the time he couldnt find anyone that he could pass it on to. But now 2023 in glad he found to ppl to pass he legacy on and they as well can be teachers of future generations 😊. Good job 👏👍

[@eeee33333eee]

He's so funny to me for some reason. I laughed really hard at his childhood story. A man of many talents

[@aaronwest1055]

We owe it to our respective ancestors, maintaining the skills and trades they labored to build

[@PrinceAlhorian]

That's a lot of work for a single sheet. To think whole books where made from parchment once upon a long time ago.

[@quiestinliteris]

It's virtually indestructible. I have some paperbacks I got thirty years ago or so, and the edges of the pages are crumbling to dust, even the ones I've only read three or four times. Very cheap. I have some theology texts that are about a hundred and fifty years old, and they're in okay condition, but I have to be extremely careful with them, because the paper is brittle and can actually break if bent. And then there are parchment and vellum books from the Renaissance and Middle Ages that are handled with caution mostly out of courtesy, because they're still sturdy and supple. You have to be actively TRYING to damage parchment.

[@flmang]

I truly cannot wrap my head around the fact that he looks like that at 92.

[@abidhusnain4191]

I love this old man he is an inspiration!

[@azizduzgun24]

Sonunda bir Türk:)

[@giannistsonis5543]

Fun-fact: the greek word for 'parchment' is 'περγαμηνή' (spelled: 'pergamini') which comes from the ancient times and the city of Pergamon(greek: 'Πέργαμος') from where it originates. Very happy to see that at this historic place the craft still exists.

[@camelofsiberia962]

they literally said this in the vid tard

[@Nikki_Catnip]

God bless him. He looks amazing for 92.

[@Aurora-kq7bo]

What does he eat to be able to move like that at 92!?! Man’s a legend maybe having a passion in life helped

[@drepavlides]

I saw two guys in the city of Mytilene of the island of Lesbos making filo dough rhythmically jumping around a round table pulling on either side of the table and making the filo extremely thin. I see videos with examples of single persons pulling making the filo thin, but none with the grace and elegance of the two guys pulling and moving around the table like dancers as they pulled making the filo thin. I hope there is someone left somewhere doing this so it can be documented.

[@nicholasghoulson9949]

Very intresting, hope the old ways aren't forgotten

[@suzz1776]

Wow, how does he look so young? Good for him. And I love working with parchment (for crafts and leather projects. some day I wanna make a full parchment book but each hide of parchment is like 50$ and I would need like 100, and I don't have that kind of money. But someday hopefully) so this makes me really happy that he is doing this.

[@bergamaparsomenpergamonpar2495]

thank you..

[@pascalwager4544]

At 3:51, he says he has two children who ran away from this work because of the unpleasant smell... but let's be honest him being 92 at the moment would would mean they must be in their 70s now... so limped away would be more accurate. I can picture two elderly gentlemen with glasses, arched backs and toothless mouths, acting all bratty and telling Ismail... daddy, it stinks... giggling and faux-running away and actually limping away with the help is their canes

[@Kenan-Z]

You have quite a vivid imagination indeed. 😂 Why not turning your creative imagination into a day job by becoming a script writer?

[@interwebtubes]

A really nice piece,

[@De.ladmahboi]

If I lived in turkey I'd honestly do this it looks fun and rewarding since like bladesmithing which is my true passion you can see the beauty of your work outlast even several lifetimes if made with passion and true love for the craft, with a bit of skill and alot of experience

[@sayianstakepain]

this is how crafts should be not by school but by aprenticeships not all that paper book reading that wont make you a better craftsman but by practice of time

[@joymiller9668]

Beautiful story the man was a blessing to us all

[@pgpluss1076]

"i dont have power, I dont have strength. But i have enthusiasm!" Sometimes its what you need to have.

[@belladominici929]

If I could, I would love to learn the parchment making craft.

[@ElzaNagatha]

Woah, this is amazing!!

[@OG_lemonbrev2]

even im 12 im willing to learn art of any kind to preserve history

[@pauljerome01]

Hope you find something you'll dedicate to buddy!

[@adammontemurro2225]

Pretty interesting this type of work really inspired

[@LaineyBug2020]

Had no idea this was even a thing!

[@puffiness]

may God bless them

[@agentmae5490]

Very cool! These videos are great :D

[@revertedakhi]

Im amazed in the art but I am more amazed in his age of 92 and still can work like 60 years old.

[@___beyondhorizon4664]

The Mediterranean diet and his passion for his crafts. Turkish eats healthy, every meals has tomato, cucumber and cheese, including breakfast!

[@beratoren7627]

@@___beyondhorizon4664 Also he lived in village not in city. That makes a lot of difference.

[@melissawillison6708]

Very interesting, thank u for sharing this

[@nelliea.c.7086]

Amazzzzzing! cleaning n creating the parchment is an art.

[@VwithNature]

Thank you❤🙏

[@meeganyoung8058]

That’s a wonderful thing that I knew nothing about. Thank you

[@HollandAbsher]

Very interesting show ..I thought this was made out of plants .. learned something.thanks for sharing ..

[@Kenan-Z]

I've always confused the parchment with papyrus, which is made from reed pulp. I wouldn't expect the parchment to be made of animal skin.

[@joaomotta1501]

thank u for share!!!

[@_TONY_Az]

God bless him for not letting his craft die at 100 he gets around better then me I'm 30 yrs younger wow guess ’living in the country with not much traffic is key

[@MrBitviper]

damn. didn't even know that parchment is made of animal skin you learn something new everyday

[@nicoletammihaita3109]

First time I see this ..find out about .. like 👍 that shop & the painting 🖼️ ideea on it ! 👍👌👌

[@LifeandlivingbyDavid]

Awesome

[@noahfischer3088]

No joke he should start a channel to get the word out there.

[@marygoround1292]

Someone get these people in touch with Jesse Meyer, owner of Pergamena in Montgomery, NY. I think they'd get along great!

[@trainman5675]

I salute this man

[@Viewerman-gif]

There is clearly like an hour's worth of footage that details his stories, why did you remove that?

[@rafaelperalta1676]

92-YEAR-OLD!? WOW.

[@MarkMark-cd3vj]

I am so admired with their work The legend Ismail used the knife kavalitha turned towards him and scrapped the leather but the couple using differently which may cause the leather damage bcz kavalitha is too sharp

[@rsdtknqr]

come on Turkish people, do something!! I'm sure there are a few of you who would like to learn this great craft from this good man?

[@michealpersicko9531]

Why A. its gross B. vellum you can't erase vellum like paer so you only got one shot to write with per piece c. theres better cheaper alternatives now

[@bergamaparsomenpergamonpar2495]

Hello. As we learned from Uncle Ismail, we teach anyone who wants it.

[@leosailor2514]

I would love to learn from this guy

[@elnosworld9893]

It is a practice that needs to come to an end

[@2ill193]

these are legendary people

[@Xaros103765]

amazing content

[@yoakeasahi]

Long live the Ismail! Long live the Parchiment!

[@rajvirvlogs1313]

Really awesome