Lonely Planet İstanbul Guide

Imperial Treasury Located on the eastern edge of the Third Court, Topkapı’s Treasury features an incredible collection of objects made from or decorated with gold, silver, rubies, emeralds, jade, pearls and diamonds. The building itself was constructed during Mehmet the Conqueror’s reign in 1460 and was used originally as reception rooms. In the first room, look for the jewel-encrusted Sword of Süleyman the Magnificent and the Throne of Ahmed I (aka Arife Throne), which is inlaid with mother-of-pearl and was designed by Sedefhar Mehmet Ağa, architect of the Blue Mosque. It’s one of four imperial thrones on display here. The second room exhibits non-Ottoman objects received as gifts or spoils of war, including a glittering zinc jug with golden adornments from Tabriz, Iran. The tiny Indian figures, mainly made from seed pearls, are also well worth seeking out. After passing through the third room and admiring the 16th-century gold plated Ottoman helmet encrusted with turquoise, rubies and emeralds, you will come to the last and most impressive room, which is home to the Treasury’s most famous exhibit: the Topkapı Dagger . The object of the criminal heist in Jules Dassin’s 1964 film Topkapı, the dagger features three enormous emeralds on the hilt and a watch set into the pommel. Also here is the Kasıkçı (Spoonmaker’s) Diamond , a teardrop-shaped 86-carat rock surrounded by dozens of smaller stones. It was first worn by Mehmet IV at his accession to the throne in 1648.