The Treasury
The Treasury section of The Topkapi Palace Museum is the richest collection of its kind in the world. Allthe pieces exhibited inthefour halls are authentic originals. Masterpieces of Turkish craftsmen from different centuries and priceless creations from the Far East, India and Europe fascinate visitors. In each of the four rooms there is an imperial throne used in a different period of the empire.
Ceremonial attire and accessories, weaponry, narghiles, Turkish coffee cups, and other vessels adorned with gold and pericious stones are the main items in the first room. The second room is known as the "emerald room", and houses aigrettes, pendentives, and hangers decorated with emeralds and other precious stones.
Huge uncut emeralds weighing a few kilograms each and The Topkapi dagger with four large emeralds on the handle and embellished in diamonds that has become the symbol of the palace may be seen in this room.
In the third room, enamelled pieces, medals and decorations given to the Sultans by foreign countries, the twin solid gold candelabrums each weighing 48 kilograms, and the most renowned throne in the palace -the golden throne used on the coronation day of the Sultanare displayed.
Connecting the third an fourth rooms is a balcony which offers a magnificent view of the entrance of the Bosphorus and the Asiatic coast. The fourth room contains the grand throne of Turko-Indian origin and many pieces
A ceremonial canteen. (16th century)
adorned with precious stones which fascinate every visitor. In addition to the four rooms, there is also a very rich collection of watches, and table and wall clocks in a room by the third court opposite the treasury.
The Holy Relics of Islam, which used to belong to the Prophet Mohammed are kept and exhibited in a special sanctuary by the third court, and in an adjoining hall a collection illustrating the consummate skill of Turkish calligraphers is exhibited.
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