By Elif Türkölmez
Turkey’s first private museum Sadberk Hanım Museum in Sarıyer enjoys worldwide prestige for its large collection of works from the period of the Ottoman Empire The Vehbi Koç Foundation’s ‘Sadberk Hanım’ Museum was established in memory of Lady Sadberk Koç, late wife of Vehbi Koç who passed away in 1973, to host her personal art collection. It was inaugurated on 14 October 1980 at a historical venue known as the Azaryan Waterfront Mansion in Sarıyer-Büyükdere on the shores of the Bosphorus and took its place in history as the country’s first private museum.
The late 19th century built Azaryan Mansion was purchased by the Koç family in 1950 and used as summer residence until 1978. The building was then converted into a museum between the years 1978-1980, according to a plan conceived by the renowned Turkish architect Sedat Hakkı Eldem. It occupies one of the most beautiful spots of the Bosphorus.
Europa Nostra Award-winning museum
The core of the Museum’s collection consists of the traditional costumes, embroideries, Ottoman imperial silverware, porcelain and other objects collected by the late Sadberk Koç since the days of her youth. This collection has grown very significantly in size through grants and new acquisitions made over time. Following the demise of Hüseyin Kocabaş, an internationally renowned expert in Turkish, Ottoman and Anatolian art and antiquities,
Sadberk Hanım Museum acquired in 1983 an extensive part of his collection consisting of archaeological objects dating from the 6th millennium BC to the Byzantine era and reflecting the history of the Anatolian civilizations. The museum’s Archaeology Collection is housed in the Sevgi Gönül Wing, inaugurated in 1988 in a neighbouring early 20th century mansion restored under a project preserving its original façade, developed by the architect İbrahim Yalçın. The Museum was awarded the “Europa Nostra” Award in 1988 for its successful application of modern exhibition schemes. Since 2001, the Museum’s management, experts and the Museum itself are members of ICOM, the International Council of Museums.
A collection of 18 thousand pieces
The collections of the museum which included 3 thousand pieces at the outset have increased six-fold to reach a current total of 18,000 objects. While, as mentioned above, the Sevgi Gönül Wing is home to the archaeological collection, the Turkish-Ottoman and Islamic art along with European, Far and Near Eastern works of art made for the Ottomans and Ottoman period textiles, costumes and embroideries are housed in the main Azaryan Wing. The Museum is particularly focused on gathering rare samples of Ottoman and Turkish art. It acquired global recognition as owner of a significant collection of Iznik tiles and ceramics, next to its rich collection of Ottoman women’s costumes, textiles and fine art objects, remarkable in terms of quality and refinement. Alongside with archaeological artefacts and Early Islamic Period artwork, the museum’s works of calligraphy and silk fabrics samples represent the legacy of a 600-year-long imperial culture and civilization. Sadberk Hanım Museum, with its showcases representing the Ottoman household and lifestyle, is also a good example of its kind. The museum is dedicated to transmitting this vast historical heritage to future generations. It organizes workshops and various educational projects aimed at introducing Turkey’s cultural heritage and traditions to children and people from all walks of life. In addition to its precious permanent collections and its state-of -the art displaying schemes, Sadberk Hanım Museum is also a nationally and internationally valued institution amongst the ICOM community, for the temporary themed exhibitions organized under its roof as well as for its scientific publications.
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.
