Leather Workers

İstanbul Zeytinburnu’nda bulunan Kazlıçeşme Mahallesi yaklaşık 500 yıl önce deri atölyelerinin kurulduğu, emek tarihi açısından önemli deneyimleri barındıran bir üretim alanıdır. Ağır kimyasalların, ilkel makinaların kullanıldığı Kazlıçeşme deri atölyelerinde düşük ücretlerle, kötü çalışma koşullarında çalışan deri işçileri, ücret düzeyleri, çalışma koşulları, sendikal hak ve örgütlenme özgürlüğü kapsamında köklü bir emek hareketi deneyimine sahiptir. Kazlıçeşme Grevi sendikal hakların kısıtlandığı 12 Eylül döneminin ardından sınıf hareketini yeniden canlandıran emek hareketlerinden biri olması nedeniyle oldukça önem taşımaktadır. Grev, dönemi, süresi ve kazanımları bakımından işçi sınıfının özgün deneyimlerinden birini oluşturmaktadır. Bu çalışmada emeğin yeniden özne haline gelmesinde önemli katkısı olan Kazlıçeşme Grevi’ni ortaya çıkaran koşullar, deri işçilerinin talepleri, grevi örgütleme mekanizmaları, lokavtın grev sürecine etkisi, sınıfın kendi içindeki dayanışma örüntüleri incelenmektedir. Bu kapsamda çalışma, greve katılan deri işçileri, dönemin sendika yetkilileri ve işveren sendikası yetkilisi ile yapılan yüz yüze görüşmelere ve arşiv araştırmasına dayanarak gerçekleştirilmiştir. Çalışma sonucunda 1987 Kazlıçeşme Grevi’nin sendikal demokrasi, sınıf bilinci, sınıfın kendi içindeki dayanışma örüntüleri, grev örgütleme mekanizmaları açısından önemli deneyimleri barındırdığı görülmektedir.

Uherské Hradiště belongs to a small number of our cities in which well preserved objects made
of organic materials are regularly found as a result of uncovering of high medieval situations. This is
mainly because of the high level of underground water which allows the survival of these otherwise
rare finds among which leather artefacts can be found as well. These were discovered during almost
all planar researches in the historical core of the city. One of them was a preservation research in
Prostřední Street (Old townhall), Masaryk Square (Reduta), and Františkánská Street. The study
aims to present the results of technological-typological and material analysis of leather artefacts
from the three above-mentioned localities dated back to the period between second half of 13th up to
14th century.
The three selected collections from Uherské Hradiště consists of more than 670 artefacts out of
which only a fraction can be identified from the point of view of their original function. This illustrates
the character of the collection, which can definitely be considered as secondary waste deposited simply
in the area of the town plots, or in the area of public roads network. This way of waste treatment was
totally common in medieval towns and besides archaeological researches it was also proven by written
records (cf. Winter 1982, 179–196).
Among the objects the function of which could be identified are mostly respective parts of footwear
though not in such high numbers as in similar localities both in our country and abroad. This fact was
already mentioned in the study written by I. Shromáždilová (2001). Among the above-mentioned finds
pieces from the upper parts of footwear prevail unambiguously, mainly the type which was attached
to a leg by means of one or more rows of belts (type 10, according to Goubitz 2001, 135–144). Parts
decorated by cutting through or cutting out. Unfortunately, it was not possible to determine which
product they originally came from in none of them. Generally, these parts were used a s a decoration of
a vamp of a shoe (Fig. 11). A nice find is a finger part of a glove of mitten type which were in medieval
times used mostly as work gloves. Four little drop shaped cases which were used for keeping change and were used in payment everyday payment system are absolutely unique finds among the uncovered
objects.
Cumulation of scraps of leather of various sizes which were uncovered in Františkánská Street (test
pit C) is also worth mentioning (ca 140 pieces). From the technological point of view, they come from
both used leather as well as from the so-called primary production. Such a concentration of obviously
manufacturing waste most probably indicates presence of a shoemaker’s workshop.
Generally it can be concluded that the analysed collections represent a very interesting example of
medieval clothing culture, equipment and gear from the second half of 13th and 14th century which
exactly fits the context of the period of the last of Přemyslid dynasty and the beginning of the reign of
Luxemburg dynasty.

A Looming Past (2010):  weaves together a multi-layered narrative of the lives of traditional coarse blanket makers in a small southern Indian village in Karnataka State, Yaravarahalli.  This documentary not only shows the ancient process of blanket weaving but also subtly reveals the relationship between the weaver and shepherd as well as the weaver and trader, all of whom belong to the same broadly-defined caste; the Kuruba.  A Looming Past is an attempt to capture the sights and sounds of an ancient occupation in its contemporary and increasingly frayed context and at a critical juncture in its long and textured history.