ADORNMENT OF “THE WARD OF TRESSED HALBERDİERS” FOUNTAİNS İN TOPKAPI PALACE

Built upon the conquest of İstanbul, Topkapı Palace has functioned as the administrative center of Ottoman State and residential center of the reigning Ottoman Sultan. Various structures have been added to the main palace during each sultan's period in the seven hundred thousand square meter area between the years of 1485-1854. The attention paid to the decoration and ornamentation of the fountains reveal the significance and holiness attributed to water in Islam and Ottoman Culture. The fountains found in Topkapı Palace are among the finest examples of fountain form. The architectural composition and motifs of the stone carvings display the taste and stylistic features of the period. “The Ward of Tressed Halberdiers” was established to open the way of the army during the expeditions. Tressed Halberdiers resided in the palace as public servants, their guild was built in the XV^th Century. It is the only example of a guild in the palace that has survived to this day without any decay. The guild was restored multiple times, during different periods. With each restoration there was an update made to the design of the ornamentations. “Baba Fountain” and “Sıra Fountains (Ablution Fountains)” in “The Ward of Tressed Halberdiers” still carry the stylistic influences of the the date and age, which it was initially built: rich ornaments, calligraphies, glazed tiles and elegant hand carved works. This study offers a close observation and detailed comparison between the original design and the redesigns with a “Traditional Turkish Arts” influence. The photographs of the front and side façades of these fountains and their marble surfaces were taken from close range with a ninety degree angle and were used as source material for the hand-drawn illustrations. This research includes twenty-seven scaled illustrations drawn by the researcher herself.

Keywords

Topkapı Palace, The Ward of Tressed Halberdiers, Fountain, Adornment