Turkish and Islamic Art Museum

Turkish and Islamic Art Museum

Built in the 16th century, the Museum of Islamic Arts building was used as the residence of Grand Vizier Ibrahim Pachá during the reign of Suleymaniye the Magnificent. It is located on the side of the Hippodrome of the ancient Constantinople.

The Museum of Islamic Arts brings an exhibition of Turkish and Islamic culture, exhibiting various objects from different periods of Islamic art, with a collection that exceeds forty thousand pieces. The collection includes notable examples of Islamic calligraphy, tiles and rugs, in addition to this you will see ethnographic exhibitions of nomadic Turkish peoples, and in its basement ruins of the stands of the Hippodrome.

You can see different sections at the museum:

Carpets
The carpet section in the museum is very rich and people use to call the Turkish and Islamic Art Museum the "Carpet Museum". In the carpets collection there are some of the oldest carpets in the world, rare Seljuk carpets, prayer rugs and animal figured carpets belonging to the 15th centuries, Anatolian carpets between the 15th and 17th centuries, Iranian and Caucasian carpets and palace carpet samples.

Woden Works
The most important part of this collection is the Anatolian wood art dated from between the 9th and 10th century. You can also see Anatolian Seljuks art work, mother-of-pearl, ivory, tortoiseshell ornamented wooden works from the Ottoman Empire, Koran part cases, book rests and drawers.

Stone Art
Stone works belonging to Emevi, Abbasi, Memluk, Seljuk, Ottoman periods. You will be able to see grave stones with hunting scenes, figures like sphinx, griphon, dragon, etc.

Ceramic and Glass
In this section you will see ceramics of early Islamic period and glasses belonging to the Anatolian Principalities, Ottoman tiles and ceramic art samples, Seljuk Period samples and ornaments of Konya Kilicaslan Palace. You will be able to see glass collection starting from the 9th century, 15th century memluk candles and Ottoman glass art samples.

Hand Writings and Calligraphy
The museum exhibits Korans from the 7th to the 20th century. Rare collection of calligraphies, books from different subjects, imperial edicts with Ottoman signatures and Turkish and Iranian miniature writings.

Metal
You will be able to see Seljuk Empire period art, the door knockers of Cizre Ulu Mosque, 14th century candelabrum ornamented with constellation and planet symbols, Ottoman metal art samples from the 16th century until the 19th century on silver, brass, tombac (ornamented with valuable stones) crests, candles, rose water cans and censers.

Ethnography
You will be able to see carpets - kilim looms collected from various regions of Anatolia, wool painting techniques, weaving and ornaments, clothes in their regional enhancements, house goods, hand made arts and nomad tents.