摘要: Statements of authenticity and/or integrity　　Mahmut Bey Mosque was registered as cultural property to be preserved by the statement of Superior Council of Immovable Antiquities and Monuments (dated 29

Statements of authenticity and/or integrity

　　Mahmut Bey Mosque was registered as cultural property to be preserved by the statement of Superior Council of Immovable Antiquities and Monuments (dated 29/11/1988, numbered 563).

　　Coloured wooden ornament applied on the wooden surface by special brush named "Kalem". Thus this traditional hand-drawn ornament technique named “Kalem İşi". All parts of wooden ornament interior are original and in good condition.

　　In terms of wood carving technique and the decorating style of interior, Mahmut Bey Mosque is accepted as a masterpiece for Turkish Art and Architecture. In general wooden work and coloured ornament style in mosque are harmonic. While geometrical decoration has "eternity" principle, floral designs are stylized. Four wooden columns hold the roof interior and these wooden columns have Corinth column heading.

　　Mihrap (niche in a mosque wall indicating the direction of Mecca) was made plaster. Technique and decoration style of Mihrap has characteristic of the period of mosque was built. According to technique and decoration style, Pulpit is harmonic the rest of the building too.

　　Although plan scheme is small and plain, in terms of rich wooden decoration of interior Mahmut Bey Mosque is one the most beautiful examples of wooden columned and roofed mosques in Anatolia.

　　Since the mosque has been restored with certain intervals and actively utilized, there are no major structural conservation problems. Especially, the authenticity and integrity of the wooden materials and ornaments called “Kalem İşi” are mostly conserved. But both variable climatic conditions and biological factors have caused some deterioration on the wooden ornaments. Particularly the coloured wooden ornaments applied on the textile surface of the arches of “Mahfil” (special raised platform in a mosque) are mostly poured. There are some partial pours on the other parts.

　　The authenticity and integrity of the plaster ornaments is substantially conserved. In addition, there is no specific deterioration on the stone materials forming the wall texture of the mosque.

　　In 2007, within the context of restoration, a new wooden minaret was built in place of concrete minaret which is not original. Roof was renewed and some parts of walls were completed. Excellent woodcarving door of the mosque was stolen in 1977, but then it was found in Manisa and brought back to Kastamonu, placed in the Ethnographical Museum. Today, the door of the mosque is not the original one and there has been a successful exact replica of it.

　　The measured drawings, restitution and restoration projects of the mosque were approved by the related Conservation Board on 10.03.2006 and also within the scope of the restoration of the Mosque, roof, drainage and “Kalem İşi” projects as well as the detail drawings of the minaret were prepared and approved by the Conservation Board on 03.07.2006.

　　In addition, mihrab of mosque is made by plaster. Using plaster mihrab is a rare architectural element in Turkish-Islamic architecture too. This mihrab has a decoration plan consist of geometrical and floral ornaments. Mihrab influenced because of the humidity from floor. As an urgency precaution, in 2007 protection project started by Istanbul Technical University. Thanks to this protection project harmful effect on building stopped.

　　When you enter this building, you can see all interior is dimly. Because, as a precaution to protect ornaments on wood surfaces interior, today there is no electric enlightenment inside of mosque.