Occupying two archetypal wooden Bosphorus yalis , the Sadberk Hanim Museum was the first private museum to open in Turkey, in 1981. The larger of these ilis, the Azaryan Yali, is the former summer house of the wealthy Koç family. A four-storey mansion, it was built in 1911 and, like many buildings of the time, was inspired by European architecture. The distinctive crisscrossed wooden slats on its facade distinguish it from the neighbouring buildings. It contains some fine ethnographic artifacts collected by Sadberk Hanım, wife of the industrialist Vehbi Koç, to whom the museum is dedicated. She found many of them in the Grand Bazaar and in Istanbul's other markets. A number of exhibits are laid out in tableaux depicting 19th-century Ottoman society. These include a henna party, at which the groom's female relatives would apply henna to the hands of his bride; and a circumcision bed, with a young boy dressed in traditional costume. Also worth seeking out in this section is a display of infinitely delicate oya, Turkish embroideries. These remarkably lifelike pieces imitate garlands of flowers, such as carnations, roses, fryacinths and lilies and were used to fringe scarves and petticoats. Some of the examples on show were made in palace harems in the 18th century. The neighbouring building is called the Sevgi Gönül Wing. Also dating from the early 20th century, it was bought to house the archaeological collection of Hüseyin Kocabaş, a friend of the Koç family. Displays are ordered chronologically, ranging from the late Neolithic period (5400 BC) to the Ottoman era. Exhibits are changed from time to time, but typically include Assyrian cuneiform tablets dating from the second millennium BC, Phrygian metalwork and Greek pottery from the late Geometric Period (750-680 BC). Among other items are Byzantine reliquary and pendent crosses, and a selection of Roman gold jewellery. (s1)
Sadberk Hanım Museum (Sadberk Hanım Müzesi)
Opened in the 1980s, this was one of the first private museums in the country. The museum is named for Sadberk Hanım, wife of industry giant Vehbi Koç (the father of Rahmi Koç, who founded the industrial museum described earlier in this chapter). Two 19th-century mansions overlooking the Bosphorus display separate exhibits dedicated to archaeology and art history. The collection rivals, and sometimes surpasses, that of the Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum, except for the carpets. While not worth the trip on a quick visit, it works well when combined with a visit to Rumeli Fortress (see previous sight) or a Bosphorus cruise Hours, Location: Thu-Tue 10:00-17:00, closed Wed, Piyasa Caddesi 27-29, Büyükdere, tel. 0212/242-3813 or 0212/242-3814. Photography is not allowed. Getting There: Follow the Rumeli Fortress directions (see previous sight), but instead get off the bus at the stop called Sefaret (seh-fah-reht) and walk south a few blocks along the coastal road. (s3)
Occupying two archetypal wooden Bosphorus yalis , the Sadberk Hanim Museum was the first private museum to open in Turkey, in 1981. The larger of these ilis, the Azaryan Yali, is the former summer house of the wealthy Koç family. A four-storey mansion, it was built in 1911 and, like many buildings of the time, was inspired by European architecture. The distinctive crisscrossed wooden slats on its facade distinguish it from the neighbouring buildings. It contains some fine ethnographic artifacts collected by Sadberk Hanım, wife of the industrialist Vehbi Koç, to whom the museum is dedicated. She found many of them in the Grand Bazaar and in Istanbul's other markets. A number of exhibits are laid out in tableaux depicting 19th-century Ottoman society. These include a henna party, at which the groom's female relatives would apply henna to the hands of his bride; and a circumcision bed, with a young boy dressed in traditional costume. Also worth seeking out in this section is a display of infinitely delicate oya, Turkish embroideries. These remarkably lifelike pieces imitate garlands of flowers, such as carnations, roses, fryacinths and lilies and were used to fringe scarves and petticoats. Some of the examples on show were made in palace
Opened in the 1980s, this was one of the first private museums in the country. The museum is named for Sadberk Hanım, wife of industry giant Vehbi Koç (the father of Rahmi Koç, who founded the industrial museum described earlier in this chapter). Two 19th-century mansions overlooking the Bosphorus display separate exhibits dedicated to archaeology and art history. The collection rivals, and sometimes surpasses, that of the Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum, except for the carpets. While not worth the trip on a quick visit, it works well when combined with a visit to Rumeli Fortress (see previous sight) or a Bosphorus cruise