Collection
The Furniture and Decorative Arts
About the Collection
The Sakıp Sabancı Museum Furniture and Decorative Arts Collection is a tangible reflection of the Westernisation that shaped the late Ottoman Empire. In the nineteenth century, profound transformations in state institutions, military organisations, and educational systems had a significant impact on social life, paving the way for a new lifestyle to emerge, particularly in Istanbul. During this period, the interior designs of new buildings, inspired by architectural styles such as Baroque, Rococo, Neoclassical, and Empire, evolved in harmony with these European traditions. Furnishings, drawn from these eclectic styles, were carefully selected to complete the architectural character of the spaces they inhabited.This influence is evident in the ‘Family Quarters’ within the Atlı Köşk, constructed in the late 1920s. The collection, initiated by the family of the Khedive Prince Mehmed Ali Hasan and later expanded by the Sabancı family, includes a range of exquisite pieces. Among these are gilded mirrors, consoles, and tables, magnificent crystal chandeliers, French tapestries, and silk-upholstered furniture sets. Additionally, the collection features accessories such as Sèvres-style porcelain vases, French-made mantel clocks, and bronze sculptures. This remarkable collection represents distinguished examples of the fashions that prevailed in Europe and Istanbul from the mid-nineteenth century to the early twentieth century.
