The Palace Collections Museum is located in the Imperial Palace Kitchens of  Dolmabahçe Palace, which was built by Sultan Abdülmecid and consists of three sections: Art Gallery, Museum and Depot.

In the Palace Collections Museum objects dating from the last period of the Ottoman Palace have been brought together. These come from Dolmabahçe, Beylerbeyi, Topkapı and Yıldız palaces, the Küçüksu, Ihlamur and Maslak pavilions, and also include products from Yıldız Porcelain Factory and Hereke Carpet and Weaving Factory. 

The Palace Collection consists of the objects which were ordered, purchased and given as presents. The exhibition is arranged thematically. 

The Collections of Sultan Abdülhamid II

The museum was reorganized after the collection in Yıldız Palace which includes personal belongings of Sultan Abdülhamid II and outstanding gifts that were presented to the Sultan on the 25th anniversary of his enthronement were transferred to the Palace Collections Museum. Besides the phaeton that Sultan Abdülhamid II drove himself, the sword, whip, prayer beads and woodworking tools of the Sultan are also remarkable imperial objects. The extensive collection of presents given to Sultan Abdülhamid II on the 25th anniversary of his accession, includes precious items such as a silver model of a building, a model of the Sultan Ahmed III Fountain and a model of a telegraph pole, which are on display at the museum.

Children’s Clothing

The National Palaces Textile Collection includes children’s clothing, such as underwear and shirts made of light cotton fabrics and muslin, shoes, various caps, swaddling sets, blankets and bundle wrappers. Although there are not many examples of children’s garments and other items in the collection, they provide valuable insight into those used at the Palace at that period.

Toys and Educational Artefacts

The toys and educational artefacts which were used by Dürrüşehvar Sultan, the daughter of the last Caliph Abdülmecid Efendi, give visitors an idea about the education and daily life of the royal children. These toys and educational artefacts are important in showing the care paid to training of a dynasty member. They also reflect the close interest of Caliph Abdülmecid Efendi, as a reform minded person, in bringing up his daughter. 

Furniture

The furniture is of great variety in terms of style and origin and has a significant place in the Palace Collections. At the palaces these artifacts are exhibited in their original locations according to information obtained from archival sources and historical photographs. A few examples which have been selected from the furnitures in the depot are exhibited in this museum.

The Art of Hat (Calligraphy) and Writing Sets

In the Art of Hat (Calligraphy) and Writing Sets Collection, divits (cases for inkwell and pen), rihdans (pots containing powder, used for drying the writing), hokkas (inkwells), maktas (tablets on which reed pen nibs were cut), penknives, scissors and buffers for polishing paper, paperweights, seals that played an important role in the official and social life of the Ottoman Empire, examples of the Ottoman coat of arms, and examples from the collection of religious objects, such as ceramic tiles, zemzem water carages, censers and rose water flasks are exhibited.

Porcelain

The Porcelain Collection is one of the richest collections in the palaces, kiosks and pavilions that dating from the latter years of the Ottoman Empire and reflects the lifestyle and the concept of art, dominant at the time. The countries which had political, cultural and economic relations with the Ottoman Empire in the 19th century were primarily France, Germany and England. Most of the palace porcelains of the late Ottoman period were purchased from these countries or received as diplomatic gifts. Also Yıldız Porcelain products form an important part of the collection.

Embroidery 

The embroidered items in the National Palaces Textile Collection comprise original examples that date back to the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century and demonstrate how traditional art forms were reinterpreted under the influence of modern art movements. There are various embroidered textile pieces in the collection such as coffee tray covers, table cloths, prayer rugs, sherbet covers, ablution towels, women clothing and covers for religious objects. The collection provides valuable documentation regarding embroidery dating from the late period of the Ottoman palace; and consists of embroideries made by professional embroiderers as well as the women in the palace harem and the girls who studied at domestic science schools in the last period of the empire.

Silver Tableware

This collection includes gold plated silver tableware used at palace banquets given for high ranking foreign visitors in the 19th century. These examples also show the diversification in tableware in the 19th century when the traditional features of the Ottoman’s table customs changed. 

Hereke Imperial Factory

Fabrics which were produced at the Hereke Imperial Factory are exhibited in this section. The Hereke Factory became a source of prestige for the empire as a weaving factory that represented the Ottoman Empire and won many awards, diplomas and orders at international exhibitions and fairs during the era. The Hereke Imperial Factory only manufactured for the palace, different kinds of textile products and fabrics that included upholstery and curtains used in furnishing the Ottoman palaces.

Light Fittings

Crystal chandeliers of huge dimensions and candelabra constitute the most important group of the Light Fittings Collection. Crystal chandeliers and candelabras form the most magnificent part of the collection.

Other lighting equipment used in daily life such as lamps, wall sconces, oil-lamps, lanterns and candlesticks are exhibited in the museum and illustrate the history of lighting in the 19th century.

Heating, Industrial and Medical Equipment

The Ottoman dynasty built palaces, kiosks and pavilions in İstanbul to emphasize the place of the Ottoman Empire in the world as a global power, just as magnificent royal palaces were built as a symbol of power in Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries. 

In the 19th century, with the many discoveries made in Europe and America as a result of the Industrial Revolution, different kinds of devices, machines and products were manufactured.   The Ottoman palace followed these discoveries closely and purchased them. 

A lot of equipment, tools and machine, that  facilitated daily life, in the fields of lighting, heating, communication, gardening, bureaucracy, cooking and medical treatment were purchased for the palaces, kiosks and the pavilions which were built in the same period. In the palace collections, products with diverse functions are brought together, such as stoves, an agricultural spraying device, gas-fired heater, typewriter, cream separator, telephone, portable stove, gramophone, iron, cinematograph, shaving set and electroshock machine.

Clocks and Musical Instruments

The Ottoman royal family always felt a profound interest in music. It was quite usual to play an instrument well and to have a sophisticated appreciate of music for a dynasty whose members included many excellent musicians and composers. In the Palace Collections Museum, there is a Steinway upright piano dating from the late 19th century, made in Hamburg, has been selected to represent the musical instruments that form an important part of the National Palaces Collections.

Books

This section of the museum exhibition consists of a selection of books from Caliph Abdülmecid Library at Dolmabahçe Palace. 

The Depot

Approximately ten thousand objects which were used in daily life or on special occasions at the 19th century palaces, kiosks and pavilions known as the National Palaces can not be exhibited in these museums today due to lack of exhibition space.

It was decided that these objects kept in various stores at the palaces, kiosks and pavilions should be collected in a single depot that provided ideal climatic and other conditions and where the objects could be seen. Therefore a new depot was established to preserve all kinds of objects (porcelain, glass, textile, wood, metal etc.) in optimum museology conditions that took the earthquake risk into account. This is Turkey’s first and only museum depot and opened to public in 18 October 2016.

• Museum Card is valid in the palaces, kiosks, pavillions,museums, historical factories affiliated to the Presidency of National Palaces with the exceptions below:
  • Museum Card is not valid in Topkapı Palace Harem and Hagia Irene sections, Dolmabahçe Selamlık section, Beykoz Glass and Crystal Museum, Küçüksu Pavillion Picnic area.
  • Discounted Selamlık ticket service is offered for the local Museum Card holders who want to visit the Selamlık section of Dolmabahçe Palace.
• Discounted Selamlık ticket service is offered for the local Museum Card holders who want to visit the Selamlık section of Dolmabahçe Palace.
  • Topkapı Palace Combined Tickets are valid for 1 day from the date of purchase.
  • Dolmabahçe Palace Combined Tickets are valid for 1 month from the date of purchase. This period is valid for use in different places. The same place can be visited once only in that month.
• Palaces, Kiosks, Pavillions, Museums and Historical Factories are free for domestic- foreign visitors aged 0-6.
• Discounted ticket service is offered for the students between the ages of 07-25 who present their student ID card.
  • Topkapı Palace is free for TR and TRNC citizens under the age of 18. Discounted ticket service is offered at Topkapı Palace for TR and TRNC citizens between 18-25 years. (25 Included)
  • Foreign students pay twice the price of the discounted ticket.
  • Foreign students aged 12-25 are requested to present their International Student Identity Card (ISIC: International Student Identity Card) concretely.
• National Palaces Glass and Crystal Museum is free for domestic-foreign visitors under the age of 12.
• 20% Discount is applied to the tour companies that bring 20 or more visitors to the palaces, kiosks, pavillions,museums, historical factories affiliated to the Presidency of National Palaces.
• Thematic Tours are held with 3 or more full fare ticket.