A manuscript factory history: Tevfik Âmir's booklet on the Sèvres Porcelain Factory

Abstract

The study of corporate history in Turkey originated in the 1980s, although there were some early studies on this subject. However, the number of studies on this topic is limited. The first work that can be considered an example of an early study is the Sèvres Porcelain Factory (Dârü's-sinâ'ası) Risâlesi, written by Tevfik Âmir [Kocamaz] in 1898. This work, which has only recently been discovered, provides a comprehensive account of the history, production, and artisans of the Sèvres Porcelain Factory, which now functions as a museum in Paris. In this study, a codicological method was employed to examine the work, and field theory was utilized to contextualize it and analyze the author’s perspective. Consequently, the study aspires to present a late Ottoman exemplar of Tevfik Âmir’s school of management with this treatise and a profile of a manager as a carrier of industrial knowledge. Conversely, the study illuminates the narrative of the Sevr Factory, which bears resemblance to the industrialization approach that prevailed during the Ottoman period. This analysis encompasses factors such as the provision of concessions, the role of private enterprises, and collaboration between the state and private entities. This study also provides a tangible illustration of French influence across diverse domains within the Ottoman Empire.