Dolmabahçe Clock Museum History, Exhibits, Entrance Fee, and Visiting Hours

The Dolmabahçe Clock Museum, housed within the Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul, Turkey, is a unique and fascinating destination for those interested in the history and artistry of timekeeping. The museum’s collection predominantly features 19th-century clocks, with a smaller section representing the 18th century.

Museum Highlights:

• French Clocks: The majority of the collection consists of French clocks, known for their precision and decorative elegance. These clocks, often made of materials like bronze, gold, marble, and tortoiseshell, blend functionality with artistic design.
• English Clocks: The second largest group in the collection. These clocks, known for their intricate mechanisms and elegant wooden, tortoiseshell, silver, and crystal cases, contrast with the French style.
• German and American Clocks: Primarily wall clocks from the late 19th to early 20th centuries.
• Austrian Clocks: Small, elegant porcelain table clocks and classical wooden Viennese wall clocks.

The Dolmabahçe Palace Clock Collection also includes unique Turkish contributions to clockmaking, particularly from the Mevlevi dervishes, renowned as the greatest Turkish clockmakers. These craftsmen combined advanced mechanisms with intricate designs, exemplified by the skeleton clocks in the collection.

Unique Features:

• Muvakkits: The museum highlights the role of muvakkits (timekeepers) in the Ottoman Empire, who were crucial for maintaining accurate prayer times.
• Turkish Craftsmanship: The collection features clocks made by Eflâki Dede, Mehmed Muhsin, and Mehmed Şükrü, prominent Mevlevi clockmakers known for dedicating their lives to creating intricate timepieces.

Visiting Information:

“Closed to visit due to restoration”

• Closed on Mondays.
• Ticket offices open from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
• Open and closed days vary for public and religious holidays.

Location:

• Vişnezade Mahallesi, Dolmabahçe Caddesi, Beşiktaş, Istanbul.

Contact Information:

• Telephone: 0 (212) 236 90 00
• Fax: 0 (212) 259 32 92
• Email: [email protected]

The Dolmabahçe Clock Museum offers a unique journey through the evolution of clockmaking, showcasing exquisite pieces that are as much works of art as they are functional timepieces. Visitors can expect to see a blend of Western and Eastern timekeeping traditions, making it a must-visit for anyone interested in horology and history.

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