The black pearl of the underground

The Oltu Stone

This semi-precious stone with an elegance that resembles a black pearl assumes one shape after another in the hands of its master and reflects a distinct beauty when combined with gold and silver.

Oltu, which is one of the symbols of Erzurum, is extracted in difficult conditions from the thin deposit layers under the ground in surrounding villages such as Sülünköy, Güllüce, Güzelsu, Alataşlar and Dutlu. The difficulties related with the Oltu Stone which has become one of the income resources of the people in the region is not over after it has only been extracted.

Oltu stone needs a very special care and sensitiveness during processing and storage. Because after you take enough oltu stone to process, there is only one place where you can keep the rest, the underground. This method keeps the stone soft, and makes the processing of the stone easier. The oltu stone which is handled with the skill of a sculptor is first placed into water, then it is carved with steel knives, after the decoration, emery and the polishing at the very end with chalk dust and olive oil, it assumes its final shape. All kinds of ornaments such as necklaces, earrings, brooches, bracelets, and rosaries for gentlemen the most valuable among which is the 33 piece rosary that the men of Erzurum can not drop, cigarette-holders, and rings are produced with the processed stones.

The highest quality Oltu Stone throughout the World which has been processed for hundreds of years is found in Erzurum and surrounding villages. The oltu stone processing which has been going on for centuries continues today in the Rüstempaşa Bedesten in Erzurum. This bedesten (vaulted and fireproof part of a bazaar where valuable goods are kept) also known as the Taşhan Bazaar, was founded by Rüstem Paşa who was the grand vizier and son-in-law of Süleyman The Magnificient. You can now find the Oltu Stone workshops and shops with their embroideries one more colorful than the other in this two-storey Bedesten which bears Classic Ottoman motifs.

The Oltu Stone Association which was founded for the advertising of the Oltu Stone which is also called the black amber by the people of Erzurum, is doing its best to publicize its black amber all over the World.