Karagoz and Hacivat is a Turkish shadow play. According to the 17th century Turkish traveler Evliya Celebi, the play was first performed at the Ottoman palace in the late 14th century. The shadow play was the most important entertainment of the Ottoman period and was widely performed for the public and in private houses between the 17th and 19th centuries particularly during Ramazan, and at circumcision, feast festivals, coffee houses and even in gardens. The figures are made up of hand painted leather.