If I love the past deeply; if I am attached to those great, magnificent days, be sure that it is because I believe the deceased, too, have a say in this land and in our lives.’
Ahmet Hamdi Tanpınar
My obsession with the past always draws me to antique shops across the city, each hosting collections that reflect Istanbul’s elegant history, when a bourgeois lifestyle shaped its culture. In those days, homes were not merely functional spaces, as they often are today, but aesthetic environments where art, music, literature, and daily life seamlessly intertwined.
Sofa Art and Antiques is one of the finest examples of Istanbul’s antique shops, owned by Kaşif Gündoğdu, who has been collecting ‘treasures’ for over 40 years. I fondly remember his shop in Nuruosmaniye, near the Grand Bazaar, which he later moved to a trendier district. His store now resides in Galata, close to the Crimean Church.
For those eager to catch a glimpse of Istanbul’s belle époque—when homes were adorned with 19th-century icons, delicate Ottoman miniatures, illuminated manuscripts, and women wore exquisite jewellery—Sofa is the perfect destination. The store offers a remarkable selection of both oriental and occidental treasures, evoking the elegance and charm of a bygone era.
Visit Sofa at Serdar-ı Ekrem Caddesi, Seraskerci Çk. No:2, 34440 Beyoğlu/İstanbul
Visuals are taken from Cornucopia.net.
