Porcelain dyeing is the handicraft of ornamentation over raw porcelain material with glaze, using dyes suitable for such material.

For porcelain dyeing, dyes are used which increase durability of porcelains that expand at high temperatures and make sure that porcelains can last for centuries. Other materials used for this art branch is medium, cellulosic thinner, various oils and sable brushes. Although tile patterns, one of the classic examples of porcelain dyeing, are preferred, patterns used vary from region to region. Regions are divided into three; i.e. Kütahya, İznik and Yıldız.

When looking into history of porcelain and porcelain dyeing, we see that beginning of its story goes back a very long time and dates backs to 1000 BC. Art of porcelain that emerged for the first time in China became widespread all over Europe, thanks to sailors from Portugal, in the 17th century. The first person to define this matter, brought by sailors, as porcelain is Marco Polo. After its arrival in Europe, porcelain became a symbol of prestige for the noble class of Europe. Therefore, acquiring formula for porcelain became vital for Europeans, and the first porcelain was produced in Germany in 1707, about 700 years after its first production in China. Porcelain, produced for both decorative purposes and daily use, also drew attention of the Ottoman Palace. Due to such interest of the Ottoman for the porcelain, porcelain ware suitable for traditional use of the Ottoman started to be produced at German and Austrian plants. Afterwards, porcelain dyeing and porcelain production started in the Ottoman, too.

Place of porcelain dyeing and its development process in the Ottoman are similar to its fate in Europe, partially though. Porcelains generally used at palaces were first imported from China, then they started to be imported from Europe. Eventually, porcelain started to be produced at the porcelain factory established in Beykoz by Sultan Abdülmecit by bringing together small scale porcelain mills. However, the said porcelain factory did not last for a long time and survived for only 30 years. In 1800s, a porcelain factor in the real sense of the word was established and mark that reads as “Turkish Soil” was imprinted at the bottom of porcelains produced for the first time.

What re-shaped the fate of the porcelain dyeing was, as was the case with other art branches, the 19th century when wars, revolutions and migrations made their marks. Also, production process that became easier with the industrial revolution had an adverse impact upon development of art branches.

Today, porcelain dyeing is performed and conserved in Turkey at Istanbul Sanatları Çarşısı, as is the case with rest of the world.