Topkapı Palace was the splendid home of the Ottoman sultans for 400 years, built by Mehmed II the Conqueror (1451-1481), and from 1478 onwards used both as an imperial residence and the seat of government. Events at Topkapı Palace determined the destiny of the most farflung parts of the empire. Here decisions to go to war were taken, and the careers of statesmen were made and lost. Today the palace is a museum where once closely guarded treasures of all kinds are now displayed for all to see. As well as jewels, weapons and holy relics, the exhibits include clothing once worn by the Ottoman sultans.
The collection of kaftans belonging to the sultans is one of the most celebrated collections of Turkish textiles in the world. Sultan Abdülmecid (1839-1861) had cases made for the private display of these kaftans, but these could only be viewed by special permission which was granted to foreign diplomats alone during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Following repairs to the palace the kaftans were placed on display in the Hall of the Privy Chamber in 1947, and in 1964 moved to the Hall of Campaign where they can still be seen today.From the 16th century onwards the pages of the Privy Chamber were in charge of the sultn'ss wardrobe. Bobovi, who taught music at the palace in the 17th century, described in his memoirs how the kaftans and valuable fabrics were taken outside to air under the watchful eye of the Chief Treasurer. The Ottoman sultans dressed to impress, and wore kaftans made of precious fabrics. Their demand for fabrics of the highest quality played an important role in the development of fabric weaving and design.

It was also traditional for private possessions such as clothing to be placed in the mausoleums of the sultans, members of the royal family, and high-ranking statesmen and clerics, and the museum collection includes many such pieces.Most of the royal kaftans are made of silk and cotton fabrics from India, Iran, Egypt and China. A child's kaftan made of cream coloured silk damask, a ceremonial kaftan of the same colour with a design of small circles filled with dragon-like curving designs, şalvar (baggy trousers) whose surface is entirely covered with angular meanders, and knee-length drawers with undulating stripes belonging to Suleyman the Magnificent are all evidently made of fabrics of Far Eastern origin. The collection includes an example made from a fabric dating from the last Chinese dynasty, the Manchu Ch'ing, in a design which became celebrated in Europe. There are long fibred and extremely finely woven Indian cottons and silks, the most interesting of the fabrics woven in India for the Middle Eastern market being two lengths of the dress fabric known as 'came'.

Each of the kaftans and other garments worn by the sultans and now in the collection at Topkapı Palace has a different story to tell when we begin to delve into their secrets, and the beauty of their designs is enhanced by the fascinating facts which are revealed by the quest to discover their origin.

* Assoc. Prof. Hülya Tezcan is a curator at Topkapı Palace Museum