Storerooms of the Topkapi Palace

Zifir · 12th December 2009, 04:20 PM

These are recently taken pictures of the storerooms in the Topkapi Palace. They pay such a "great attention" in storing such valuable materials that it makes you cry

http://fotogaleri.hurriyet.com.tr/ga...id=29711&rid=2

Rick · 12th December 2009, 05:14 PM

Rust never sleeps .

Sad, but thrilling to look in the back room .

Still, if they had a clearance sale I'd be right there .

Thank you Zifir .

Rick

Gavin Nugent · 12th December 2009, 05:45 PM

Tears tears and more tears, such a waste. Very grateful the images are out for all to view though, thank you.

Gavin

CharlesS · 12th December 2009, 08:14 PM

Normally every greedy collecting bone in my body would be standing at attention over these pics....but for some reason I just wanna cry. This is such a waste. Think of how many of the smaller museums in Turkey would LOVE to have just one or two examples in their collections, but instead....this!

KuKulzA28 · 12th December 2009, 08:34 PM

That's an arsenal of weapons losing to rust...

They could hire me to clean every one of those.. I'd do it.

Aleksey G. · 12th December 2009, 10:02 PM

Oh my!... I think im gonna have a premature ej..eja..evacuation looking at these, especially the first several pics with all the shamies

Zifir thank you for posting these. Wow, I wonder if some of the museums in US are keeping their "off-season" stuff in the same manner.

Nonoy Tan · 12th December 2009, 11:45 PM

Sad.

IMHO, what is needed here is concrete action. Can the weapons collectors of this country meet and discuss ways how they can provide assistance?

ward · 13th December 2009, 12:29 AM

The situation in this museum is normal. In some museums you would find the items in piles on the floor. When you have a large collection there is no way, unless there is a large amount of money behind it that individual care can be taken on each piece.

ilias · 13th December 2009, 01:41 PM

As I see from the images there is no big waist yet but it will be at the future.
I am sure that something will be done to save them!!!

mavi1970 · 13th December 2009, 03:46 PM

all I can say is wow. Been to the palace many times, and seen the dispayed collections, but never knew about these. Definately next summer when I am there I will ask if they can let me see these. Such a waste. I wonder what there is in the storage of the military museum, probably even more, but being under military control, I would hope in better cleaner condition. And to see all those helmets, shields, bows, to have one of each. hehe

ariel · 15th December 2009, 12:43 PM

If you remember Yucel's descriptions of the Topkapi's "top" collection, some swords were mentioned as having cartouches or signatures that were just erased due to improper "cleaning " in the very recent past. Apparently, the Topkapi's problems may run deeper than just poor storage and lack of regular care.

Marc · 17th December 2009, 11:37 AM

To be sincere... I've been in a few museum storage rooms, and for what I can see from the pictures this one isn't the best I've seen, for sure... but it's FAR from being the worst

. Given the circumstances, I would dare to say it's not that bad, in fact...

Zifir · 17th December 2009, 06:03 PM

I agree that there might be worse places and museums in terms of storing and also there are other deeper problems for Topkapı concerned. But still it aches one's heart to see all those beautiful chain mails and swords are rusting

dennee · 17th December 2009, 06:11 PM

Like others here, I've seen worse. At least there's some order to it. But I wouldn't hang the mail or textiles. And it looks like there's not proper climate control, given the proximity to windows and even an open louvered vent in one photo. It would be great if they could perform proper conservation on each piece, but it is expensive and time-consuming.

A Senefelder · 18th December 2009, 04:40 PM

Thank you for posting the pics. Its always a pleasure to be able to see otherwise inaccessible arms and armour. As others have said the storage isn't unfortunately uncommon, but its still really nice to see the stash. The racks and racks of maille, helmets and kalkans was especially nice ( the racks of maces were pretty spiffy as well ).

mross · 18th December 2009, 07:20 PM

All in all does not seem that bad, could be much worse. The storage while not optimal seems adequate. Now if they need some extra funds and someone could whisper in their ear about ebay .....

12th December 2009, 04:20 PM	#1
Zifir Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Istanbul Posts: 228	Storerooms of the Topkapi Palace These are recently taken pictures of the storerooms in the Topkapi Palace. They pay such a "great attention" in storing such valuable materials that it makes you cry http://fotogaleri.hurriyet.com.tr/ga...id=29711&rid=2

12th December 2009, 05:45 PM	#3
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	Tears Tears tears and more tears, such a waste. Very grateful the images are out for all to view though, thank you. Gavin

12th December 2009, 05:14 PM	#2
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,293	Rust never sleeps . Sad, but thrilling to look in the back room . Still, if they had a clearance sale I'd be right there . Thank you Zifir . Rick

12th December 2009, 08:14 PM	#4
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,857	Normally every greedy collecting bone in my body would be standing at attention over these pics....but for some reason I just wanna cry. This is such a waste. Think of how many of the smaller museums in Turkey would LOVE to have just one or two examples in their collections, but instead....this!

12th December 2009, 08:34 PM	#5
KuKulzA28 Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: between work and sleep Posts: 731	That's an arsenal of weapons losing to rust... They could hire me to clean every one of those.. I'd do it.

12th December 2009, 10:02 PM	#6
Aleksey G. Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 70	Oh my!... I think im gonna have a premature ej..eja..evacuation looking at these, especially the first several pics with all the shamies Zifir thank you for posting these. Wow, I wonder if some of the museums in US are keeping their "off-season" stuff in the same manner.

12th December 2009, 11:45 PM	#7
Nonoy Tan Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 293	Sad. IMHO, what is needed here is concrete action. Can the weapons collectors of this country meet and discuss ways how they can provide assistance?

13th December 2009, 12:29 AM	#8
ward Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 637	The situation in this museum is normal. In some museums you would find the items in piles on the floor. When you have a large collection there is no way, unless there is a large amount of money behind it that individual care can be taken on each piece.

13th December 2009, 01:41 PM	#9
ilias Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: GREECE Posts: 73	As I see from the images there is no big waist yet but it will be at the future. I am sure that something will be done to save them!!!

13th December 2009, 03:46 PM	#10
mavi1970 Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: canada Posts: 90	all I can say is wow. Been to the palace many times, and seen the dispayed collections, but never knew about these. Definately next summer when I am there I will ask if they can let me see these. Such a waste. I wonder what there is in the storage of the military museum, probably even more, but being under military control, I would hope in better cleaner condition. And to see all those helmets, shields, bows, to have one of each. hehe

15th December 2009, 12:43 PM	#11
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	If you remember Yucel's descriptions of the Topkapi's "top" collection, some swords were mentioned as having cartouches or signatures that were just erased due to improper "cleaning " in the very recent past. Apparently, the Topkapi's problems may run deeper than just poor storage and lack of regular care.

17th December 2009, 11:37 AM	#12
Marc Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Madrid / Barcelona Posts: 256	To be sincere... I've been in a few museum storage rooms, and for what I can see from the pictures this one isn't the best I've seen, for sure... but it's FAR from being the worst . Given the circumstances, I would dare to say it's not that bad, in fact...

17th December 2009, 06:03 PM	#13
Zifir Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Istanbul Posts: 228	I agree that there might be worse places and museums in terms of storing and also there are other deeper problems for Topkapı concerned. But still it aches one's heart to see all those beautiful chain mails and swords are rusting

17th December 2009, 06:11 PM	#14
dennee Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: College Park, MD Posts: 186	Like others here, I've seen worse. At least there's some order to it. But I wouldn't hang the mail or textiles. And it looks like there's not proper climate control, given the proximity to windows and even an open louvered vent in one photo. It would be great if they could perform proper conservation on each piece, but it is expensive and time-consuming.

18th December 2009, 04:40 PM	#15
A Senefelder Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 214	Thank you for posting the pics. Its always a pleasure to be able to see otherwise inaccessible arms and armour. As others have said the storage isn't unfortunately uncommon, but its still really nice to see the stash. The racks and racks of maille, helmets and kalkans was especially nice ( the racks of maces were pretty spiffy as well ).

18th December 2009, 07:20 PM	#16
mross Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 478	All in all does not seem that bad, could be much worse. The storage while not optimal seems adequate. Now if they need some extra funds and someone could whisper in their ear about ebay .....