Istanbul's Topkapi Palace Museum is expanding its cultural offerings later this year with a brand-new museum dedicated to porcelain, showcasing a stunning collection including rare Chinese ceramics.
Topkapi Palace was the official residence of the Ottoman sultans for over 400 years, from the 15th to the 19th centuries. Today, it's a renowned museum, and it is home to around 22,000 porcelain items, 12,000 of which are Chinese, which were primarily acquired through diplomatic gifts and trade. Located in the historic Darphane-i Amire complex, once the Ottoman Empire's mint, the new museum is slated to open by the end of 2025 and showcase over 4,500 rare porcelain artifacts from the Topkapi Palace Museum's collection, including 1,442 prized Chinese pieces. The museum organizes its exhibits into three sections, Chinese porcelain, European and Asian works, and Ottoman-era ceramics.
Ilhan Kocaman, the director of the Topkapi Palace Museum, said that most of these porcelains were custom-made for the Ottoman Empire, with designs that better aligned with local aesthetics. These pieces not only reflect the pinnacle of Chinese ceramic artistry, but also testify to the cultural exchanges along the ancient Silk Road.
Source: Bastille Post