The book of the exhibition organised on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of Sadberk Hanım Museum (Dec 3, 2015–Sept 25, 2016)

The exhibition presents enamelled and jewelled objects in the Turkish-Islamic section of the museum. The works on display reflect Ottoman tastes in objects set with diamonds, emeralds, rubies and other precious stones, and exquisitely crafted enamelled artefacts. They include objects for a wide variety of uses, such as belt buckles, writing boxes, pen cases, spoons, coffee cup holders, mastic jars, sherbet cups, pocket watches, fans, fly whisks, tobacco pipes, snuff boxes, brooches, Ottoman decorations and slippers.

Apart from the surviving jewelled objects themselves, archive documents, the writings of Ottoman authors and foreign travellers, contemporary paintings and miniatures demonstrate the extensive use of precious metals and gems to adorn items ranging from book bindings to costume in Ottoman culture. The jewelled and enamelled objects in the Sadberk Hanım Museum collection tend to follow court tastes; most of them were evidently used and worn by people in or close to court circles.