Watcher of Hand Engraving Profession: Berç Melikyan

Keeping engraving tradition alive and standing out with numerous artworks he made for global leaders, ministers, businessmen, and artists including, first and foremost President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the 9th President Süleyman Demirel, President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, Master Hand Engraver Berç Melikyan in addition to designing the container of the Prophet Muhammad's beard (Sakal-i Serif), considers himself the watcher of this cultural heritage that he wants to keep alive.

Would you introduce yourself? Could you describe how you started this profession?

I was born in Istanbul in 1960. I started this profession at young ages as a jeweler. Later I was directed to hand engraving with recommendation of my master because I was very fond of drawing and I have been doing this profession for 47 years. With the experience I built over the years I can engrave jewelry, wax, everything, dress stone and prepare models. I learned my profession from master to apprentice, by doing and discovering. This is a culture and I am watching it, as we say, to keep it alive. Somebody had to keep this profession alive to continue this legacy and I took it upon myself to be its watcher. My profession became my vision to carry the past into the future.

It is a delicate work…

The most distinct definition of this profession would be to say it requires a lot of delicacy. It is just like how you pass a bridge carelessly but after you pass you turn around and say “How did I pass this?” 1 millimeter equals 100 microns. Think of every micron as 100 layers. You cannot use 40 of those layers. This work is done by working on the 60 microns on the top. It is that delicate and difficult to even explain. The biggest difficulty is the fact that object used is small while the engraving is complicated. Thus, it required very meticulous work. Hand engraving does not tolerate any errors. Because the object that are worked on are usually precious stones. This requires a sensitive work process. Every product is unique. It is not possible to replicate a product that is prepared with thousands of pen strokes.

Which stage of your profession pleases you the most?

This is a very good question. I do it with great pleasure from beginning to the end, but I am the happiest when my work meets with the customer and I see the expression of delight on the customer’s face. And also when I complete a work I say “It could not have been better,” but when I do even better the following time, feeling I raised the bar, pleases me all over again every time.

Do you have a signature?

I have two signatures. If you did not completely make a product by yourself, you would use master imprint on it. That shows you are only the engraver and designer of the product. I have a two-letter sign which is hidden within the design. Just like how they imitate everything, that is also imitated so I put my secret signature apart from our patented brand.

His signature is on very valuable works of art…

I worked mainly on jewelry but I made many different works. I had the opportunity to work on guns, swords, as well as producing very nice works for our Presidents, ministers, and many prominent foreign statesmen. I am very happy for having the opportunity to prepare commemorative stamp for the 9th President Süleyman Demirel, a box for President Vladimir Putin ahead of President Erdoğan’s visit to Russia in 2019, and container of the Prophet Muhammad's beard (Sakal-i Serif).

His Son is the Trainee of Master

Inspiring and teaching his profession to his son, Berç Melikyan works in his workshop at Nuruosmaniye with his son. Berç Melikyan says he also participates in workshops and seminars organized by universities and says: “Universities must get involved in this, must care for hand engraving and open training programs.”