The Art of Glass Back

Erten Konak Sultanahmet Ãstanbul CamaltÃ½ SanatÃ½

Glass Back painting is a technique of painting which is performed by paint on back face of the glass plate. Although it appears similar to paintings on canvas, the working method is just the opposite. Whereas the signature and date are at the last stage in a painting, one should start from the signature in glass back. Glass back paintings are demonstrated in Toppaki museum – Turkish Islamic arts museum. There are glass backs containing Quran verses with frames embroidered with flower motifs. The glass backs in the houses contain various patterns collected from Konya and Anatoliag regions, where the roots of the family come from, including, as part of Turkish glass back paintings, scriptures(Allah, Mohammad, Kelime-I Tevhid manuscripts), scriptures and paintings (mosques, Ashab al Kahf, the Ship of Amentu, Mawlawi helmet, the sword of Caliph Ali, crescent – start compositions) scenes (the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia Mosque) folk tales (Caliph Ali and his Camel, Burak Horse With Wings, Shahmeran, Mermaids), empire emblems (Ottoman Empire Emblem, Sultan Decrees, Edirne Selimiye).

Hat â€“ Bridal Dress Collections

In Turkish society, hat has been the brand of Turkish Revolution that has been done in the transition from the Empire to the Republic. The hat was first worn by Ataturk in 1925 in Kastamonu, acting as the leader of Turkish society in this field. Erten Konak Family hosts a collection of 150 hats in order to present hat, which is the symbol of transition from the Empire to the Republic. These hats are particularly special for weddings, engagements and special days. These hats are supported with the photos of those who wore them on those days. There exists bridal dressing and special dresses for engagements, weddings and special days pertinent to Ottoman days and the first years of Turkish Republic.

Calligraphy Collection

In Ottoman Periods, the orders of Sultans and Grand Viziers used to be announced to the public in the form of decrees and as such documented. All decrees bear the tughra (signature) of the Sultans. Every Sultan decree is an artistic masterpiece. Erten Konak hosts manuscript collection, Sultan decree, charter and title deed collection covering the dedication of or disposal of the ownership of a place by Ottoman Sultans. Besides, there is a collection of title deeds pertinent to the last period of Ottoman Empire and the first years of the Republic of Turkey. The most striking of these is the title deed of Erten Konak itself. There also exists ornamentation, calligraphy and miniature collection of contemporary calligraphers and miniature artists complementing that collection.