Porcelain and celadon collection

Apart from exhibiting the kitchen utensils, today the buildings contain the world's third largest collections of Chinese blue-and-white, white, and celadoncaravans over the Silk Road or by sea. The 10,700 pieces of Chinese, Japanese and Turkish porcelain displayed here are rare and precious. The Chinese porcelain collection ranges from the late Song DynastyYuan Dynasty (1280-1368), through the Ming DynastyQing Dynasty (1644-1912). This museum also contains one of the world's largest collections of 14th-century Longquan celadon. porcelain. Chinese and Far East porcelain was highly valued and was transported by camel (13th c.) and the (1368-1644) to the Those celadon were valued by the Sultan and the Queen Mother because it was supposed to change colour if the food or drink it carried was poisoned.The collection has around 3,000 pieces of Yuan and Ming Dynasty celadons. The Japanese collection is mainly Imari porcelain, dating from the 17th to the 19th century. Further parts of the collection include white porcelain from the beginning of the 15th century and "imitation" Blue-and-White and Imari porcelain from Annam, Thailand and Persia.



The Grand Vezier in an audience, painting from the series by Jean-Baptiste van Mour in 1724The Imperial Council (Divan-i Hümâyûn) building is where the Divan, the Imperial Council, consisting of the Grand Vizier (Paşa Kapısı), viziers, and other leading officials of the Ottoman state, held meetings. It is also called Kubbealtı, which means "under the dome", in reference to the dome in the council main hall. It is situated in the northwestern corner of the courtyard next to the Gate of Felicity. It was constructed in the 15th century by the architect-in-chief Alseddin, by the order of Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent. This place lost its importance after the 18th century, when the Grand Viziers had started to run the affairs of state independently.

At this time, important state issues were transferred to the Sublime Porte (Bâb-ı Âli) of the Grand Viziers.The council hall has multiple entrances both from inside the palace and from the courtyard. The porch consists of multiple marble and porphyry pillars, with an ornate green and white-coloured wooden ceiling decorated with gold. The floor is covered in marble. The entrances into the hall from outside are in the rococo style, with gilded grills to admit natural light. While the pillars are earlier Ottoman style, the wall paintings and decorations are from the later rococo period. Inside, the Imperial Council building consists of three adjoining main rooms. Two of the three domed chambers of this building open into the porch and the courtyard. The Divanhane, built with a wooden portico at the corner of the Divan Court ("Divan Meydani") in the 15th century, was later used as the mosque of the council but was removed in 1916. There are 3 domed chambers:

The first chamber where the Imperial Council held its deliberations is the Kubbealtı.
The second chamber was occupied by the secretarial staff of the Imperial Divan.
In the adjacent third chamber called Deferhane, records were kept by the head clerks. The last room also served as an archive in which documents were kept.

The Kubbealti, which suffered damage during the Great Harem Fire of 1665, was restored by the order of Sultan Mehmed IV. On its façade are verse inscriptions which mention the restoration work carried out in 1792 and 1819, namely under Sultan Selim III and Mahmud II. The rococo decorations on the façade and inside the Imperial Council date from this period.In the Imperial Council meetings the political, administrative and religious affairs of the state and important concerns of the citizens were discussed. The Imperial Council normally met four times a week. The meetings of the Imperial Council were run according to an elaborate and strict protocol. The council members, the Grand Vizier, the viziers, and the Chief Military Judges of Anatolia and Rumelia met here to discuss the affairs of the state and submitted their resolutions to the Sultan. They also held court hearings. Sometimes the Grand Müfti (Sheikh al-İslam) also took part in important meetings. The other officials of the Council were the Nişanci (officers whose duty it was to inscribe the Sultan’s imperial monogram on imperial letters) and the Minister of Finance (Defterdar), the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Reis-ül-Küttab), the officials charged with the duty of writing official memoranda (Tezkereciler), and the clerks recording the resolutions.It was also here that the Grand Vizier received ambassadors and wedding ceremonies of the Sultan’s daughters were held.The fountain in the middle of the room, when running, enabled secret conversations to be held. From the window with the golden grill the Sultan or the Valide Sultan was able to follow deliberations of the council without being noticed. The window could be reached by the adjacent Tower of Justice (Adalet Kulesi).

Tower of Justice

The Tower of Justice (Adalet Kulesi) is located in-between the Imperial Council and the Harem. The tower is several stories high and the tallest structure in the palace, clearly visible from the Bosphorus. Sultan Mahmud II rebuilt the lantern of the tower in 1825 while retaining the Ottoman base (attributed to Mehmed II). The tall windows with engaged columns and the Renaissance pediments evoke the Palladian style (see larger view: Image:Courtyard Topkapi Palace.jpg).

Armory Exhibition Hall

Armory Exhibition HallThe present Armory Exhibition Hall (Silah Seksiyonu Sergi Salonu) was formerly the inner treasury of the Ottoman Empire. It is a hall built of stone and brick with eight domes, each 5 x 11.40 m. It was transformed into a museum in 1928, displaying a rich collection of about 400 weapons (dating between the 7th and the 19th c.) from several countries, including swords of many Sultans. The collection shows the sword of Sultan Mehmed II. It also includes samurai armor, a present from Japan to the Sultan. During excavations in 1937 in front of this building, remains of a religious Byzantine building dating from the fifth century were found. Since it could not be identified with any of the churches known to have been built on the palace site, it is now known as "the Basilica of the Topkapı Palace".

Gate of Felicity

The Gate of Felicity (Bâbüssaâde)The Gate of Felicity (Bâbüssaâde or Bab-üs Saadet) was originally constructed in the 15th century.This monumental gate is the entrance into the Inner Court (Enderûn), also known as the Third Courtyard, comprising of the strictly private and residential areas of the palace. It represents the presence of the Sultan in the palace. No one could pass this gate without the authority of the Sultan. Even the Grand Vizier was only granted authorisation on specified days and under specified conditions.It was redecorated in the rococo style in 1774 under Sultan Mustafa III and during the reign of Mahmud II.The Sultan used this gate and the Divan Meydanı square only on special ceremonies. The Sultan sat before the gate on his Bayram throne on religious, festive days and accession when the subjects and officials perform their homage standing. The funerals of the Sultan were also conducted in front of the gate.On either side of this passage under control of the Chief Eunuch of the Sultan’s Harem (called the Bâbüssaâde Ağası) and the staff under him were the quarters of the eunuchs as well as the small and large rooms of the palace school.The small, indented stone on the ground in front of the gate marks the place where the banner of the Prophet Muhammad was unfurled. The Grand Vizier or the commander going to war was entrusted with this banner in a solemn ceremony.

Third Courtyard

The Third Courtyard, depiction from the Hünername in 1584Beyond the Gate of Felicity is the Third Courtyard (III. Avlu), also called the Inner Palace (Enderûn Avlusu), which is the heart of the palace, where the Sultan spent his days outside the harem. It is a lush garden surrounded by the Hall of the Privy Chamber (Has Oda) occupied by the palace officials, the treasury (which contains some of the most important treasures of the Ottoman age, including the Sacred Trusts), the Harem and some pavilions, with the library of Ahmed III in the center.The Third Courtyard is surrounded by the quarters of the Ağas (pages), boys in the service of the sultan. They were taught the Arts, such as music, painting and calligraphy. The best could become Has Odali Ağa (Keepers of the Holy Relics of the Prophet and personal servants of the Sultan), or even become officers or high-ranking officials.

Audience Chamber

Arz Odası, the Audience ChamberThe Audience Chamber, also known as Audience Hall or Chamber of PetitionsArz Odası) is located right behind the Gate of Felicity. It is an old building, dating from the 15th century, renovated in 1723 by Sultan Ahmed III and rebuilt in its present form after it was destroyed by fire in 1856. This square building is surrounded by a colonnade of 22 columns, supporting the large roof. The Sultan, sitting on his gilded throne, covered with embroidery and encrusted with gems and pearls, received here the Grand Vizier and the Council members, who presented their resolutions for ratification, high-ranking officials and foreign ambassadors. There is a small fountain at the entrance, used to prevent others from overhearing secret conversations in this room. Behind the Audience Chamber on the eastern side is the Dormitory of the Expeditionary Force.

Dormitory of the Expeditionary Force

The Dormitory of the Expeditionary Force (Seferli Koğuşu) houses the Imperial Wardrobe Collection (Padişhah El***eleri Koleksiyonu) with a valuable costume collection of about 2,500 garments, the majority precious kaftans of the Sultans. It also houses a collection of 360 ceramic objects.The dormitory was constructed under Sultan Murad IV in 1635. The building was restored by Sultan Ahmed III in the early 18th century. The dormitory is vaulted and is supported by 14 columns. Adjacent to the dormitory, located northeast is the Conqueror's Pavilion.

The Conqueror's Pavillon (Fatih Köşkü) houses the Imperial Treasury

Hallway of the Conqueror's PavillonThe Conqueror’s Pavilion, also called the Conqueror's Kiosk (Fatih Köşkü) and the arcade of the pavilion in front is one of the pavilions built under Sultan Mehmed II and one of the oldest buildings inside the palace. It was built circa in 1460, when the palace was first constructed, and was also used to store works of art and treasure. It houses the Imperial Treasury (Hazine-i Âmire).The pavilion originally consisted of three rooms, a terrace overlooking the Sea of Marmara, a basement and adjoining hamam, or Turkish bath. It consists of two floors raised on a terrace above the garden, built at the top of promontory on a cliff with a magnificent view from its porch on the Sea of Marmara and the Bosporus. The lower floor consisted of service rooms, while the upper floor was a suite of four apartments and a large loggia with double arches. The first two rooms are covered with a dome of considerable height. All the rooms open onto the Third Courtyard through a monumental arcade. The colonnaded portico on the side of the garden is connected to each of the four halls by a door of imposing height. The capitals of the imposing capitals are shrunken Ionic in form and date probably from the 18th century. The pavilion was used as the treasury for the revenues from Egypt under Sultan Selim I. Before this period, under Mehmed II and Bayezid II, these apartments must have been the most agreeable rooms in the palace. During excavations in the basement, a small Byzantine baptistery built along a trefoil plan was found.
Kaynak: ReformTürk http://www.reformturk.com/showthread.php?p=107664

Imperial Treasury

Door to the Imperial Treasury (Hazine-i Âmire)The Imperial Treasury is a vast collection of works of art, jewelry, heirlooms of sentimental value and money belonging to the Ottoman dynasty. Since the palace became a museum, the same rooms have been used to exhibit these treasures. Most of the objects in the Imperial Treasury consisted of gifts, spoils of war, or pieces produced by palace craftsmen. The Chief Treasurer (Hazinedarbaşı) was responsible for the Imperial Treasury. Upon their accession to the throne, it was customary for the sultans to pay a ceremonial visit to the Treasury.The objects exhibited in the Imperial Treasury today are a representative selection of its contents, which mainly consist of jeweled objects made of gold and other precious materials. Among the many treasuries that are on exhibition in four adjoining rooms, the first room houses one the armours of Sultan Mustafa III, consisting of an iron coat of mail decorated with gold and encrusted with jewels, his gilded sword and shield and gilded stirrups. The next display shows several Holy Koran covers belonging to the sultans, decorated with pearls. The ebony throne of Murad IV is inlaid with nacre and ivory. The golden Indian music box, with a gilded elephant on top, dates from the 17th century.

In other cabinets are looking glasses decorated with rare gems, precious stones, emeralds and cut diamonds.The second room houses the Topkapı Dagger. The golden hilt is ornamented with three large emeralds, topped by a golden watch with an emerald lid. The golden sheath is covered with diamonds and enamel. In 1747, the Sultan Mahmud I had this dagger made for Nadir Shah of Persia, but the Shah was assassinated before the emissary had left the Ottoman Empire's boundaries and so the Sultan retained it. This dagger was the subject of the film Topkapi. In the middle of the second room stands the walnut throne of Ahmed I, inlaid with nacre and tortoise shell, built by Sedefhar Mehmet Ağa. Below the baldachinaigrettes of the sultans and their horses, studded with diamonds, emeralds and rubies. A jade bowl, shaped like a vessel, was a present of the Czar Nicholas II of Russia.The most eye-catching jewel in the third room is the Spoonmaker's Diamond, set in silver and surrounded in two ranks with 49 cut diamonds. Legend has it, that this diamond was bought by a vizier in a bazaar, the owner thinking it was a worthless piece of crystal. Amongst the exhibits are two large golden candleholders, weighing each 48 kg and mounted with 6666 cut diamonds, a present of Sultan Abdülmecid I to the Kaaba in the holy city of Mecca. They were brought back to Istanbul shortly before the fall of the Ottoman Empire and the loss of control over Mecca. The golden ceremonial Bayram throne, mounted with tourmalines, was made in 1585 by order of the vizier Ibrahim Pasha and presented to Sultan Murad III. This throne would be set up in front of the Gate of Felicity on special audiences.The throne of Sultan Mahmud I is the centerpiece of the fourth room. This golden throne in Indian style, decorated with pearls and emeralds, was a gift of the Persian ruler Nader Shah in the 18th century. Another rather curious exhibit shows the forearm and the hand of St. John the Baptist, set in a golden covering. Several displays show an assembly of flintlock guns, swords, spoons, all decorated with gold and jewels. Of special interest is the golden shrine that used to contain the cloak of the prophet Mohammed.As of 2007, taking photographs in this hall is strictly forbidden. Permission for research purposes has to be granted before by the authorities.

Miniature and Portrait Gallery

Scene from the Surname-ı Vehbi, kept in the palaceAdjacent to the north of the Imperial Treasury lie the pages dormitory, which have been turned into the Miniature and Portrait Gallery (Müzesi Müdüriyeti). On the lower floor is a collection of important calligraphies and miniatures. In the displays one can see old and very precious korans (12th-17th c.), hand-painted and hand-written in Kufic and also a bible from the 4th century, written in Arabic. A priceless item of this collection is the first world map by the Turkish admiral Piri Reis (1513). The map shows part of the western coasts of Europe and North Africa with reasonable accuracy, and the coast of Brazil is also easily recognizable. The upper part of the gallery contains 37 portraits of different sultans, most of which are copies since the original paintings are too delicate to be shown public. The portrait of Mehmed II was painted by the Venetian painter Gentile Bellini. Other precious Ottoman miniature paintings that are either kept in this gallery, the palace library or in other parts are the Hünername, Sahansahname, the Sarayı Albums, Siyer-ı Nebi, Surname-ı Hümayun, Surname-ı Vehbi, and the Süleymanname amongst many others

Enderûn Library, or Library of Sultan Ahmed III

İznik tiles decorate the interiorThe Neo-classical Enderûn Library (Enderûn Kütüphanesi), also known as Library of Sultan Ahmed III (III. Ahmed Kütüphanesi), is situated directly behind the Audience Chamber (Arz Odası) in the centre of the Third Court. It was built on the foundations of the earlier Havuzlu kiosk by the royal architect Mimar Beşir Ağa in 1719 on orders of Sultan Ahmed III for the use of the officials of the royal household. The colonnade of this earlier kiosk now probably stands in front of the present Treasury. The library is a beautiful example of Ottoman architecture of the 18th century. The exterior of the building is faced with marble. The library has the form of a Greek cross with a domed central hall and three rectangular bays. The fourth arm of the cross consists of the porch that can be approached by a flight of stairs on either side. Beneath the central arch of the portico is an elaborate drinking fountain with niches on each side. The building is set on a low basement to protect the precious books of the library against moisture. The walls above the windows are decorated with 16th - 17th century İznik tiles of variegated design. The central dome and the vaults of the rectangular bays have been painted. The decoration inside the dome and vaults are typical of the so-called Tulip Era, which lasted from 1703-1730. The books were stored in cupboards in the walls. The niche opposite the entrance was the private reading corner of the sultan.The library contained books on theology, Islamic law and similar works of scholarship in Ottoman Turkish, Arabic and Persian. In those days the library contained more than 3,500 manuscripts. Some are fine examples of inlay work with nacre and ivory. Today these books are kept in the Mosque of the Ağas (Ağalar Camii), which is located next to the library in the western direction. One of the important items is the so-called Topkapi manuscript, a copy of the Holy Koran from the time of the third Caliph Uthman Ibn Affan.

Mosque of the Ağas

The Mosque of the Ağas (Ağalar Camii) is the largest mosque in the palace. It is also one of the oldest constructions, dating from the 15th century during the reign of Sultan Mehmed II. The Sultan, the ağas and pages would come here to pray. The mosque is aligned in a diagonal line in the courtyard, in order to make the minbar face towards Mecca. In 1928 the books of the Enderûn Library amongst other works were moved here as the Palace Library (Sarayı Kütüphanesi), housing a collection of about 13,500 Turkish, Arabic, Persian and Greek books and manuscripts, collected by the Ottomans. Located next to the mosque to the northeast is the Imperial Portraits Collection.