The Porcelains

For many years, the palace kitchens were full of beautiful porcelain.

These pieces were not made only to be looked at. They were used in daily palace life. Food and drink for the Ottoman palace were served in them for centuries.

Topkapı Palace had tens of thousands of rare Chinese porcelains. It also had Japanese porcelains. Some pieces were made specially for Topkapı Palace.

Many came to Istanbul along the Silk Road. This was the old trade road between Asia and the west. Others came by sea.

These porcelains show a long story of trade and taste. Chinese porcelain was sent to the Ottoman palace from the 13th century to the 20th century.

They were precious, but they were also part of real life. They belonged to the kitchen, the table, and the daily world of the palace.

After the renovations, the items shown here were to be displayed in the whole kitchen area, together with other objects once used in the palace.