Çanakkale Ceramic Museum

Çanakkale Ceramic Museum

About the Building

The structure was originally built in Hijri 1322 / Gregorian 1906 as the Military Post Command Soldiers’ Bath (Er Hamamı). Photographs taken during the British occupation in 1919, along with other surviving images and architectural traces, suggest that the building underwent several modifications and additions during the early years of the Republic. Operated with traditional methods until the 1940s, the bath later transitioned to a radiator heating system with the installation of a boiler. In addition to serving soldiers, it also provided bathing facilities for boarding school students during the 1950s and 1960s.In the early 2000s, the Çanakkale Strait Command transferred the historic Soldiers’ Bath to the Çanakkale Municipality to be repurposed as a Ceramic Museum.

The building had remained unused for a long period, and a comprehensive restoration process was initiated after the preparation of measured drawings (rölöve) and restitution projects and the completion of the necessary legal approvals. The restoration reactivated the structure and brought it to its present function as a museum.

Activities

On the second floor, a hall designated as the Temporary Exhibition Gallery hosts periodic exhibitions scheduled annually. These exhibitions feature not only Çanakkale ceramics from various collections but also works by contemporary ceramic artists and artisans, as well as displays focusing on the history, styles, and techniques of ceramics and terracotta across different periods.

Museum Sections and Permanent Exhibits

Entering from the garden-side main door, visitors are welcomed by a small meeting room and lobby. Another part of the museum opening onto the garden is dedicated to the restoration/conservation workshop and a live demonstration studio, where visitors can observe ceramic-related practices.

Through the museum’s rear entrance, visitors reach the section where permanent exhibitions are displayed. Here, a wide range of Çanakkale ceramics from various collections, along with works by contemporary ceramic artists, are presented. Exhibits also explore the history, aesthetics, and craftsmanship of ceramics and terracotta, accompanied by diverse art and design pieces.