Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, his German counterpart Guido Westerwelle and Saxony's Prime Minister Stanislaw Tillich on Saturday inaugurated the exhibition "Turckische Cammer", in Dresden, includes works that were diplomatic gifts or bought by German aristocrats.

The Dresden Royal Palace hosts a large collection of Turkish artwork.

Hundreds of Ottoman works of art were restored and is on display in Germany’s Dresden Royal Palace for the first time in 70 years.

The permanent exhibition of the “Turkish Chamber” is the oldest and largest collection of the Ottoman works outside Turkey.

Speaking at the opening of the exhibition, Davutoglu said the exhibition showed that relations between Turkey and Germany were rooted in history.

"I reaffirm that Turkish-German relations will further improve in the future and I thank to all of you for your contributions to the exhibition," Davutoglu said.

German Foreign Minister Westerwelle said the exhibition was not only the mirror of a very big cultural history, but at the same time a symbol of future of Germany and Turkey.

He said Turkey assumed a key role in the region, indicating that Germany was eager to extend support to economic, cultural and political developments in Turkey as they were aware of the importance of mutual future of the two countries.

Saxony's Prime Minister Stanislaw Tillich said the pieces in the exhibition were collected in 60 years and displayed the friendship between Turkey and Germany and Turkey and Saxony.

The most spectacular piece in the exhibition is a 17th century Ottoman tent which is 20 meters long, 8 meters wide and 6 meters high. It was brought to Dresden in 1729. The tent made of satin, cotton and gilt leather was restored in 14 years and cost 3.5 million euros.

The exhibition also include life-size wooden horses designed with unique and individual features.

There are around 600 pieces of Ottoman weapons or goods that were collected or purchased by Dresden kings between 15th and 19th centuries in the exhibition that opened in Residence Palace.

The Soviet Union took hold of the Ottoman works after the World War II, but later returned them to the German Democratic Republic of the time. The artwork had long waited to be restored in the storeroom of the museum, which was finally realized when the East and West Germany reunited.


Agencies