Fabrikadan Saray Mutfağına: XIX. Yüzyıl Osmanlı Sanayileşmesinde Tahsisli Üretim Uygulamalarında Devlet Fabrikalarının Bir Örneği Olarak Beşiktaş Süt Fabrikası (1877-1879)
From Factory to Palace Kitchen: The Beşiktaş Dairy Factory as a Case Study of Dedicated Production Practices in 19th-Century Ottoman State Industrialization (1877-1879)

Summary/Abstract: The Beşiktaş Dairy Factory, a civil exemplar of 19th-century Ottoman industrialization policies, represents a state-operated, dedicated production model established to meet the demands of palace kitchens. Drawing on a 20- month dataset (1877–1879) from the Hazine-i Hassa registers, this study offers a micro-historical analysis of the factory’s operations, spanning raw material procurement, production processes, labor relations, and financial performance. The factory processed milk sourced from Hazine-i Hassa farms (state-owned farms belonging to the Sultan) near Istanbul (Filibos, Çavuşbaşı, Ayazağa), allocating 85% of its output to elite kitchens such as the Harem-i Hümayun and Yıldız Palace, while marketing surplus production to generate revenue. Financial records reveal a sustainable model, with total revenues of 415,619 kuruş and net profits of 106,057 kuruş. The prominence of nonMuslims in skilled roles underscores of Ottoman industrialization, characterized by the integration of Western techniques within traditional frameworks. The workforce exhibited stark wage disparities (125– 483 kuruş/month) and a heterogeneous composition (Muslim/non-Muslim), while food expenditures illuminate period-specific consumption patterns. This study aims to re-read the Ottoman modernization experience through a palace-centered production model and to bring a civilian perspective to the military-industrial focused literature.

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