» BOYBEYI MUSEUM
Boybeyi - Cukur Kule
Chukur Tower is located at the Mahmut Pasa entrance of Grand Bazaar. This completely wooden building is especially famous for its attractive copper dome. The reason it is called chukur (means “pit” in Turkish ) is because of its being at the lowest place in Grand Bazaar.
It is said that due to its location, Chukur Tower was used as the customs control point during the Byzantium period. The tower has been built in addition to 482 shops that have been put up from 1461 –date Fatih the Conquerer gave the instruction for the set up of Grand Bazaar- till 1489 .
Harem women always prefered to do their shoppings in Chukur Tower for its safety. The upper floor –under the dome- which can be reached by a ladder connection from the outside was used as “haremlik” and the ground floor was naturally separate for men and was used as “selamlik”.
After Mahmud II forbid shopping for harem women at Chukur, (believing that it was not right for the craftsmen and the women to be so close to each other) the ground floor settled as a police station and the second floor - which was under the dome -was used as a watch tower for firemen.
In the last era of the Ottoman Empire, the building was sold and it became a pudding shop. As seen in the photos of Sebah Joaillier taken in 1890, the building is the centre of attraction of the bazaar.
Chukur Tower has been purchased by Boybeyi family in 1970 . The second floor ,”under the dome” is opened to visitors recently as Boybeyi family museum and the ground floor is still Grand Bazaar’s one of the most historical shop where Boybeyi Jewellery’s unique , all time precious collections are displayed.
Chukur Tower is located at the Mahmut Pasa entrance of Grand Bazaar. This completely wooden building is especially famous for its attractive copper dome. The reason it is called chukur (means “pit” in Turkish ) is because of its being at the lowest place in Grand Bazaar.
It is said that due to its location, Chukur Tower was used as the customs control point during the Byzantium period. The tower has been built in addition to 482 shops that have been put up from 1461 –date Fatih the Conquerer gave the instruction for the set up of Grand Bazaar- till 1489 .
Harem women always prefered to do their shoppings in Chukur Tower for its safety. The upper floor –under the dome- which can be reached by a ladder connection from the outside was used as “haremlik” and the ground floor was naturally separate for men and was used as “selamlik”.
After Mahmud II forbid shopping for harem women at Chukur, (believing that it was not right for the craftsmen and the women to be so close to each other) the ground floor settled as a police station and the second floor - which was under the dome -was used as a watch tower for firemen.
In the last era of the Ottoman Empire, the building was sold and it became a pudding shop. As seen in the photos of Sebah Joaillier taken in 1890, the building is the centre of attraction of the bazaar.
Chukur Tower has been purchased by Boybeyi family in 1970 . The second floor ,”under the dome” is opened to visitors recently as Boybeyi family museum and the ground floor is still Grand Bazaar’s one of the most historical shop where Boybeyi Jewellery’s unique , all time precious collections are displayed.
