Revan Köşkü (Yerevan Kiosk), in the north corner of the palace.
Built in 1635. It was ordered by Murat IV to celebrate the conquest of Yerevan (Armenia).
Architect: Koca Kasim Ağa, who was royal architect at the time.
It is also called the ‘Sarık Odası’ (Chamber of Turbans) as the turbans worn by the sultans were kept here at some time. This pavilion is one of the last examples of the classical palace architecture (as is the nearby Bağdat Köşkü too).

On the picture: A detail of the interior, with 17th century Iznik tiles, inlaid shutters and colourful stained glass windows. The latter were not usual in Istanbul, since the weather here is often cloudy; therefore windows had usually the regular glass, to let sunlight freely in.

Marquetry, with inlays of ivory, tortoise-shell and mother-of-pearl became one of the major decorative arts in Ottoman times. Because of its luminous and multicolored reflection, mother-of-pearl was particularly popular, in spite of its hardness and brittle nature, which made its treatment complicated.

Correspondent: J.M.Criel, Antwerpen.
Sources: ‘Istanbul, Topkapı paleis’ (Atrium cultuurgidsen) & Personal visits (1978-1986-1993-1996).