Turkish Chamber, Ottoman art museum in Dresden Residenzschloss, Germany.
The Turkish Chamber is a museum with around 600 objects from the Ottoman Empire located within Dresden's Royal Palace. The collection displays weapons, riding equipment, tents, and personal items that document the military and court culture of the empire.
The collection began in the 16th century and grew significantly under Elector Augustus the Strong, who deliberately acquired objects through diplomatic channels and purchases from Istanbul. These acquisitions reflect the Saxon court's political interest in the great powers of the east at that time.
The collection reflects the close relationship between the Saxon court and the Ottoman Empire, which is visible in the objects on display. Visitors can see how this cultural connection shaped the tastes and art collecting practices of local rulers.
The permanent exhibition occupies 750 m² on an upper floor of Dresden's Residenzschloss, reached by stairs or lift; the 600 objects are arranged in several themed sections, so allow time to move between them. The 20-metre tent and the row of carved horses stand in the largest hall.
The oldest of the museum's Ottoman bows still carry their original stringing and date to 1586, making the group without parallel in the world. Eight horses carved from wood, shown at full size, stand among the more than 600 exhibits on the 750 m² of the permanent display in the Royal Palace.
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