The Ottoman Imperial Treasury was legendary in the past and today its remarkable collections of thousands of rare and beautiful objects continue to dazzle visitors to Topkapi Palace. The Treasury is housed in four rooms in the third court of Topkapi Palace, which was built by Sultan Mehmed II (1451-1481). The earliest records concerning the Treasury are inventory lists of three to five pages dating from the reigns of Mehmed II and Bayezid II (1481-1512). Treasury registers kept in later periods provide further, if limited, information about the contents of the Treasury. The organisation of the Inner Palace consisted of various corps of staff, the treasurers being one of the most important. During the reign of Mehmed II the number of treasurers appears to have been small, rising to 60 during the reign of Ahmed I (1603-1617), and to 157 during the reign of Ahmed III (1703-1730). Opening the Imperial Treasury was an affair of strict ceremony. The Steward of the Treasury would bring the keys and then check the seal as ordained by Selim I (1512-1520) following his campaigns against Iran and Egypt

in 1514 and 1517 respectively, before unlocking the doors. This formality was followed in accordance with the wishes of Selim I until Topkapi Palace became a museum in 1924. Today the Treasury is both opened and closed by a group of authorised staff. The building which housed the precious objects and bullion belonging to the Ottoman sultans is today used to exhibit only jewelled and gold objects, but originally the contents of the Palace Treasury were far broader in scope, including precious manuscripts and albums, fabrics, royal clothing, embroideries, silver ware, porcelain, calligraphic tools, seals, weapons, clocks and documents. When the palace became a museum these were transferred to the appropriate sections. The Treasury grew over the centuries with the addition of spoils of war and gifts from foreign rulers and Ottoman statesmen. On such occasions as religious feast days, the enthronement of a new sultan, and celebrations of royal circumcisions or weddings, the coutry'si most eminent craftsmen would present the sultan with their finest masterpieces.

such as the gold reliquaries containing the occiput, arm and hand of John the Baptist, a 14th century Mamluk glass lamp, a 13th century Seljuk steel mirror bearing the figure of a horseman, and a 15th century sandalwood chest belonging to Ulugh Bey, the grandson of Timur. Royal thrones are exhibited in each of the four Treasury rooms. The 16th century ebony throne is in the classical Ottoman throne form and inlaid with ivory and mother of pearl in designs of split leaf scrolls and çintemani (three-spot) motifs. It is thought to have been used by Murad IV (1623-1640) during the Baghdad campaign. The gold throne was that used by the Ottoman sultans until the collapse of the empire. It is made of wood covered entirely with gold plate and mounted with 954 large chrysolites in lobed gold mounts. The throne was presented to Murad III (1574-1595) by Governor of Egypt Ibrahim Pasa. The throne of Ahmed I (1603-1617) is a masterpiece of mother of pearl and tortoiseshell inlay on walnut, and is set with precious gems. This baldachin style throne is inscribed with the name of Sultan Ahmed I inside the canopy.

The fourth throne was the gift of Nadir Shah of Iran to Mahmud I (1730-1754). Made in India, the throne is gold plated with enamelled decoration studded with thousands of pearls, rubies and emeralds. Jewelled pendants were hung as symbols of royalty from throne canopies and the domes, ceilings and doorways of the rooms used by the sultan. Among those in the collection are emerald pendants made for Ahmed I, Mustafa III (1757-1774), Abdülhamid I (1774-1789) and Abdülmecid (1839-1861), and enamelled silver pendants mounted with diamonds belonging to Selim III (17 89-1807) and Mahmud II (1808-1839). Inscriptions and tugra (imperial monograms) on these pendants tell us to which sultan they belonged. The most important items of jewellery worn by the Ottoman sultans and princes were turban ornaments made of gold studded with emeralds, rubies, diamonds and pearls. Plumes made of heron, peacock and bird of paradise feathers were attached to these ornaments. The collection of jewelled weapons in the Treasury consists of swords, daggers, maces, bows and arrows,

quivers, archers' guards and rings, wall guns, powder cases, pistols, suits of armour, helmets and shields. The collection includes the jewelled suit of armour of Mustafa III, the yatagan sword of Süleyman the Magnificent (1520-1566), and the dagger with a rock crystal handle belonging to Selim I. Throughout the history of the empire gifts were presented by foreign countries to the Ottoman sultans and princes. Those of the later period include two figurines made of enamelled baroque pearls and set with diamonds, turquoises and rubies, which were gifts of the Indian Muslims to the future Abdülaziz, a gold bowl that was a gift to Abdülhamid II (1876-1909) from France, and a Fabergé kovsh or ceremonial drinking vessel sent by Czar Nicholas II. Objects carved from rock crystal and dating from the 16th and 17th centuries form another notable group in the Treasury.

Made by Ottoman craftsmen, they are mostly decorated with gold and precious gems, and include water flasks, writing boxes, rosewater sprinklers, jugs, ewers and pendants. There are also three 15th century French jugs made of rock crystal. Diverse jade objects of outstanding beauty carved by Ottoman, Indian, Iranian, Chinese and Russian craftsmen between the 16th and 19th centuries include jugs, cups, plates, boxes, bowls, vases and mirrors. There are also 16th century agate chess sets in blue and red and other exquisite objects carved from agate dating from the 18th and 19th centuries, including boxes, cups, bowls and prayer beads. Jewelled book bindings made from gold and jade are among the most spectacular pieces in the Treasury. Dating mainly from the 16th century, these are richly encrusted with emeralds, rubies, diamonds, turquoises and other precious stones. Most notable of all these bindings is that belonging to the divan or collected poems of Murad III and dated 1587.