The articles used in Ottoman palaces and mansions during the 19th century are on display at the museum of palace collections!

The Department of National Palaces offers the articles used in palaces and mansions during the 19th century to the eyes of the public. The articles gathered together with a view to illustrating the life style and the day-to-day life in Ottoman palaces are put on display at the Museum of Palace Collections. The collection from the imperial period includes articles from the great Dolmabahçe Palace, as well as from various palaces and mansions used as residence by the members of the Ottoman Dynasty, such as the Aynalıkavak, Küçüksu, Ihlamur and Maslak mansions and the Beylerbeyi and Yıldız Palaces. Custom-made objects, articles purchased from catalogues, gifts from abroad, items manufactured in the palace’s carpenter’s workshop were selected from among those kept in storage due to the lack of proper exhibiting space. An interesting aspect of this exhibition is that the displayed articles are presented together with the instructions on the way they were being utilized in daily life. The pieces on display at the Museum of Palace Collections belong to the periods of Ottoman Emperors, Sultan Abdülmecid, Sultan Abdülaziz, Sultan Murad V., Sultan Abdülhamid II., Sultan Mehmet Reşad V., Sultan Mehmed Vahideddin VI. and of Calife Abdülmecid Efendi. It is also possible to see a limited number of articles which were used by Atatürk and İsmet İnönü, the first and second Presidents of the Turkish Republic, during the time they stayed at the Dolmabahçe Palace.

The Museum of Palace Collections is open to visitors every day between 09:00-17:00 hours, except Monday and Thursday. 

This article has originally appeared in “Müze” Magazine, published quarterly with the contributions of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. We would like to thank TÜRSAB Museum Enterprises for sharing this piece with Istanbul Digital Platform followers.