Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum

Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum

The Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum (Turkish: Türk ve İslam Eserleri Müzesi) is located on Sultanahmet Square in the Fatih district of Istanbul, Turkey. First opened in 1914, the museum moved in 1983 to the Ibrahim Pasha Palace, which was built in 1524 and belonged to Pargalı Ibrahim Pasha, the second grand vizier of Suleiman the Magnificent.The museum’s collections include outstanding examples of Islamic calligraphy, tiles, carpets, and ethnographic objects, with a special focus on the traditional lifestyles of various cultures in Turkey, particularly nomadic communities. Ethnographic sections recreate historical living spaces and interiors from different regions and periods. The area now used as the museum once served as the ceremonial hall of the original palace. The preserved architectural character of the building enhances the display of Islamic art, creating an impressive cultural environment. With more than 40,000 works of art, including carpets, wooden objects, and stone works, the museum is one of the largest museums in Turkey.Its prominent location directly opposite the Blue Mosque adds to its cultural significance. Since its establishment, the museum has hosted numerous national and international temporary exhibitions and is recognized as the first museum in Turkey to bring together all Islamic arts.
In 1984, it received the Special Jury Award in the European Council’s Museum of the Year competition, as well as a European Council–UNESCO Award for its efforts to promote cultural heritage education for children.

History

The museum originally opened in 1914 as the Museum of Islamic Endowments (Evkaf-ı İslamiye Müzesi) within the Süleymaniye Complex, designed by the great Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan in the 16th century. Following the establishment of the Republic of Turkey in 1923, it was renamed the Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum, reflecting a broader perspective on Islamic art beyond the Ottoman Empire.In 1983, the museum moved to the Ibrahim Pasha Palace, a well-preserved example of 16th-century Ottoman civil architecture, which underwent extensive restoration between 1966 and 1983. Throughout its history, the palace served various functions, including a residence for grand viziers, military barracks, embassy palace, registry office, Janissary band house, sewing workshop, and prison.

Exhibitions

The museum closed for renovation in January 2015 and reopened in April 2015 with renewed exhibitions. The displays focus on Islamic religious art, particularly from the Ottoman period through the 20th century. The collections feature distinguished examples of calligraphy, tiles, carpets, and ethnographic materials representing different cultures and regions of Turkey.

Today

Today, the museum houses some of the finest carpets in the Islamic world, along with more than 17,000 manuscripts, 3,000 Qur’ans, and approximately 250,000 early Qur’anic fragments originating from the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus. The exhibitions follow an ethnographic and thematic approach:

• The first floor is dedicated to traditional Turkish life,
• The second floor focuses on Islamic art.