Diplomatik hediyeleşmeden Osmanlı pazarına saatler

The focus of this thesis is on clocks that were sent to the Ottoman Empire by the Europeans either as a diplomatic gift or an object of the Ottoman market in the 18th and 19th centuries. This time period, representing intense diplomatic relations between the Ottoman Empire and Europe, led to a change in the role of clocks from diplomatic gift to object for the Ottoman market with the establishment of temporary and permanent European embassies in the Ottoman Empire and ambassador visits. Gift-giving was a prerequisite for reception ceremonies in the Ottoman Empire. Highly-valued objects – such as textiles, jewelry and furniture – that reflected the artistic and cultural identity of civilizations were generally the preferred diplomatic gifts. Clocks were also among the gifts by European rulers for the Ottoman court. Different from others, however, the clock is not only an object that is simply a gift, it is also an art object that carries a cultural and artistic synthesis between the Ottoman Empire and Europe. There are innumerable clocks that were sent to the Ottoman Empire, but their numbers increased, especially after they were produced by the Europeans to be sold in the Ottoman market. This increase is because the Ottomans desire towards clocks as an object of daily life augmented the interest in the clock-making industry in 19th century Ottoman life. Therefore, this thesis aims to offer an artistic analysis of European clocks produced for the Ottomans, as well as Ottoman-made clocks themselves, with a focus on the clocks in the Topkapı and Dolmabahçe Palace Museums collections as well as in private collections, in order to make broader conclusions about the exchange of art and culture between the Ottoman Empire and Europe. Keywords: Gift-exchange, Clock, Ottoman Empire, Europe, Diplomacy, Trade, Economy, Art object, 18th century, 19th century, Material culture