AN OTTOMAN PRAYER BOOK

BY MEHMED ARIF EFENDI, 1266 AH/1849 AD

Arabic and Turkish manuscript on paper, 9 lines to the page, written in naskh script in black ink, text separation represented by gold roundels pointed by polychrome dots, illuminated frontispiece with rococo-style decoration, surah headings in red ink on gold ground, ruled in gold and red. This finely-illuminated manuscript is a collection of Arabic and Turkish prayers. It opens with surah Yasin and different verses such as Al-Dhuha, Ikhlas and Al-Asr, Al-Inshirah, Al-Zalzalah, Al-Takathur and many different small verses followed by different prayers with commentaries and the Beautiful Names (Asma’ al-husna). The last folio signed by al-fakir Mehmed Arif on 29 Jumada al-akher in 1266 AH/1849 AD, with ownership statement.

In brown gilt morocco binding with flap. 10 by 12.5 cm.

The Calligrapher

Student of Hafiz Osman’s School in the six scripts, born in Istanbul-Eyüp, died 1270-1280 AH/1853-1864 AD and buried in Istanbul-Eyüp

He is one of the Anatolian pedestals. The grandson of Firar Mustafa Pashazade İbrahim Bey, who died in 1803. He was born in Eyüp and completed his education there. In the meantime, he received ijazet from Kebecizâde Mehmed Vasfî Efendi for practicing thuluth and naskh, and later gained skill in calligraphy with the help of other calligraphers. After completing his education, he became one of the lithographic calligraphers of Mühendishane-i Berrî-i Hümâyûn. He wrote the texts of the maps printed in the printing house of the school. He retired after serving for a long time, performed Hajj, and died a short time after he returned. Although it is known that he was buried in Eyüp, where he resided throughout his life, his history is not known.

Estimate € 2000 - € 3000

AN OTTOMAN ILLUMINATED MINIATURE OCTAGONAL DALA’IL AL-KHAYRAT COPIED BY MUSTAFA AL-HAFEZ RUSDI

DATED 1231 AH/1815 AD

Arabic manuscript on paper depicting prayers in honor of the Prophet Muhammad, each folio with 10 lines, written in elegant black naskh script, with gold verse markers, some words picked out in red, text within gold and black rules. Two opening pages with gilt and polychrome decoration enclosing the title ‘Dala’il Al-Khayrat’, with numerous illuminated headpieces in gold and polychrome, including two original diagrams of the Holy Sites of Mecca and Medina.

This finely-illuminated manuscript is a collection of prayers, it opens with two detailed illustrations Mecca and Medina with Al-Masjid AL-Haram and Al-Masjid AL-Nabawi, followed by diagrams of the Names of the Lord of the Worlds (Rab al-’alamin), Names of the Prophet, two detailed views of Kabaa and al-Rawda al-Sharifa, Alam or flag of the prophet, Mihraab of the Prophet Muhammad, Tuba tree, different items used by the prophet, names of the companions. The last with signed “written by Mustafa al-Hafez Rusdi, dated 1231 AH”. 5 by 5 cm.

Estimate € 3000 - € 5000

Lot 72

MUHAMMAD BIN SULAYMAN

AL-JAZULI (D.1465 AD) DALA’IL

AL-KHAYRAT, 18TH CENTURY

Al-Jazuli’s renowned work in praise of the Prophet Muhammad, Arabic manuscript on paper, each folio with 10 lines written in bold sepia Maghribi, titles in bold gold and polychrome Maghribi within illuminated cartouches, important words such as Allah and Muhammad in blue or red, text within blue and red rules, catchwords, two contemporaneous illustrations of the minbar of the Prophet and the tombs of the first Caliphs, copious added notes, in red morocco binding with gilt highlights.

12 by 12 cm.

Estimate € 4000 - € 6000

Lot 74

A QURAN SECTION, CENTRAL ASIA

DATED 1301 AH/1883 AD

Arabic manuscript on paper, 20 leaves with 9 lines to each page. First, four and last line written in strong large thuluth script on light yellow ground. The other 6 lines arranged in two blocks of 3 lines, each of elegant smaller black naskh script, gold roundel verse markers outlined in blue and pointed in blue and orange dots, text ruled in gold and polychrome borders. The first page with floral polychrome decoration enclosing the name of the surah “ surah al-Kahf” in large thuluth script. The second and the third page with polychrome decoration enclosing 3 lines reserved in clouds. The last page signed “written by Muhammed Dur al-Shiri IN 1301AH”. Surah Al-Kahf, surah Al-Ikhlas, surah Al-Falaq and surah Al-Nas. 22 by 35 cm.

Estimate € 3000 - € 5000

DALA’IL AL-KHAYRAT BY MUHAMMAD BIN SULAYMAN AL-JAZULI (D. 1465 AD), SIGNED MUSTAFA AL-HAFIZ, OTTOMAN TURKEY, EARLY 19TH CENTURY

Arabic manuscript on paper depicting prayers in honour of the Prophet Muhammad, each folio with 11 lines written in elegant black naskh script, with gold verse markers pointed out in polychrome dots, some words picked out in red, text within double gold and polychrome rules, two opening biofolio with royal gold and rococo-style decoration enclosing text in clouds reserved against a gilt ground. Further two detailed illustrations of Kabaa, al-Mihraab al-Nabawi and al-Rawda al-Sharifa, different attributed names to the Prophet, occasional marginal floral motifs, colophon signed ‘written by Mustafa hafiz”. The first page with ownership statement and stamps, dated 1269 AH/1852 AD. In original tooled and stamped gilt brown morocco binding with flap. 10 by 15.5 cm.

Estimate € 800- € 1200

AN ILLUMINATED OTTOMAN QURAN, 18TH CENTURY

Arabic manuscript on paper, each page with 14 lines written in bold black naskh script in clouds reserved against a gold sprinkled ground, gold roundel verse markers outlined in black, diacritics and vowels in red, occasional marginal commentary notes indicating ‘juz’ and hizb’in red ink, surah headings in large white thuluth script on cartouches with a gilt blue floral illuminated ground, all ruled in gilt and blue borders, two opening bifolia fully illuminated in gold and polychrome framing 6 lines in clouds reserved against a gold sprinkled ground, end of the text with prayers and dedication.

The final page signed “written by Muhammad Aref al-Harawi”. In later gilt Qajar lacquer binding with central cartouche enclosing spandrels containing scrolling floral vines.

12 by 18 cm.

Estimate € 10.000 - € 15.000

Lot 76