Topkapi Palace – Collection of Clocks

The clock collection is near the hall of sacred relics in the previous weaponry treasury. The clocks in Topkapi Palace were not exhibition objects, originally, but were for the daily use of the sultans. Some of them were manufactured in the Ottoman court through foreign rulers and dignitaries. Between the 16th and 19th centuries all of them were used in the palace. They are of special historical value, as the production techniques are unique to their period.

The clocks in the collection mainly come from England (Markwick-Markham and Henry Borrell from London), France (Pierre le Roy, George and Edward Prior), Russia, Austria and Switzerland (Abraham Louis Bregnet). Almost 30 clocks are of Turkish origin.

Some of these clocks are made of silver. They are gold-plated and ornamented with precious stones. Interesting are two gold-plated birdcages, which incorporate clocks within them, and  a French astronomy set which has a clock inside.

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