Topkapı Sarayı, Hasekiler Dairesi’nde Yeni Bulunan Bir Çeşme

The Newly Discovered Fountain in the Chamber of the Hasekis, Topkapi Palace

A massive Ottoman wall fountain has recently been uncovered underlayers of plaster during the restoration of the Chamber of the Hasekis inthe Harem of the Topkapi Palace in 2010. This article first aims to describeand present this unregistered fountain and to introduce it to scholars working on the Topkapi Palace and fountains in Istanbul. Second, it attemptsto date it according to its stylistic particularities. Last, it aims to discussthe originality and possible meanings of the decorations that cover thefountain. Although cypresses and grape wines are quite common ornamentsfound on Ottoman fountains, the birds that feed on the grapes areparticularities that make it unique.