Since the 14th Century, Tekfur Palace has sometimes been referred to as the "Porphyrogennetos House," in historic sources. “Porphyrogennetos” is an imperial adjective meaning "born in the purple chamber", it was used to describe children born after their father became emperor.

It is thought that Tekfur Palace, which is thought to be a part of the Blachernae Palace complex, was used as the official residence of the Byzantine emperors from the 13th century onwards. Tekfur Palace, was built adjacent to the land walls between Edirnekapı and Ayvansaray. It remained derelict for many years when its roof collapsed as a result of fires during the Ottoman period. In the archaeological excavations carried out by Prof. Filiz Yenişehirlioğlu starting in 1995, man architectural findings and objects made of tiles and glass were unearthed.

Both the original findings and replicas of the tile panels produced in the tile kilns here are exhibited in the museum. Tekfur Palace is the only palace structure in Istanbul that has survived with architectural integrity from the Byzantine period. The facade of the Palace, a three-story building facing the courtyard, contains the ornate decorations of the late Byzantine art.

In the part of the building that has survived to the present day, tile kilns installed by the tile masters brought from İznik during the reign of Sultan Ahmed III, as well as the original clay obtained from Alibeyköy Stream used in the production of tiles, can be seen. Among the works produced here are the tile panels of the Fountain of Ahmed III in Sultanahmet, the mihrab of the Kandilli Hekimoğlu Ali Pasha Mosque, and the mihrab panels of the Eyüp Cezeri Kasım Pasha Mosque. From the same period, the pottery production and glass workshops called "Şişehane", which started in and around the Tekfur Palace courtyard, and extended to Eyüp, are also important.


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