98. Ceramics, Weights, Picasso & paintings at the Pera

Following on from my last posting on the Pera Museum, here are five more exhibitions featured at this exciting museum - four from the Museum's permanent collection and finally a visiting Picasso exhibition ...
  

Kütahya Tiles and Ceramics Collection ...

The Suna and İnan Kıraç Foundation's Kütahya Tiles and Ceramics Collection dates back to the 1980s, and over the years it has grown to become one of the most outstanding collections of its kind. Today the collection consists of over 800 remarkable pieces representing various periods in Turkish history - especially the 18th - 20th centuries. The limited number of pieces on display have been chosen to give a general idea of the collection and the craftsmanship of Kütahya ceramics. 

Kütahya is a inland city in western Turkey with a history of ceramics and tile making dating back to the 15th century when Sultan Selim I established the area as a centre for the Ottoman ceramic industry, producing tiles and faience for mosques, churches and official buildings in places all over the Middle East.

All artworks date from the late 18th + 19th + early 20th centuries.

.......................another permanent collection.........................

Anatolian Weights and Measures 

This interesting exhibition of Anatolian weights and measures collection is comprised of over ten thousand pieces. The collection consists of objects dating from prehistory to those used in present day Anatolia. These consist of the main types of scales and measuring instruments, used for measuring weight, length, and volume in every field, from land measurement to commerce, architecture to jewellery making, shipping to pharmacy.

Anatolian weights from the 3rd millenium BC

Agora weight from Roman Period - 1st-3rd century AD

Ottoman weight sets - 19th-20th century

Ottoman spherical weight sets - 19th century

Portable balance set - 18th century

Portable balance set - 18th century

Balances 19th-20th century

Theodolite - early 20th century

Ottoman tool for measuring the angel between the earth and the stars

 -19th century

Plumb levels - 18th-19th century

Bascule - 19th century ... weighing devise ????

........................ next came a small permanent exhibition ..........................

Intersecting Worlds

A beautifully curated and interesting collection of paintings inspired by the Ottoman world. 

Imam - Jean-Baptiste Vanmour - oils - early 18th century

The Daughter of the English Ambassador 

Faustro Zonaro - oils - 1896

Girl with Pink Cap - Osman Bey - oils - 1904

Coban Mustafa Complex - Osman Bey - oils - 1880

Two Muscician Girls - Osman Bey - oils - 1880

Tortoise Trainer - Osman Bey - oils - 1906

............... and finally - another visiting exhibition ................

Picasso Engravings and Ceramics from the House of His Birth 

This  exhibition - from the Picasso Foundation and curated by Mario Virgilio Montañez Arroyo - is a reflection of Picasso's world and his constant and never-ending search. 

It catalogues the models, techniques, and styles of the artist between 1923 and 1969 - half a century of changing creation during which he combines and switches between Classicism, Cubism, and Surrealism.

And so that was my visit to the fabulous Pera Museum - the gallery was practically deserted which made viewing even more pleasurable ... and so after coffee and cake it was back out into the wet wind ( straight off the Arctic ) and a brisk walk up a still crowded Istiklal Avenue to Taksim Square and home to thaw out in my centrally heated apartment .