A calligraphic panel, signed by Abdulfettah Effendi
Turkey, 19th Century
Turkey, 19th Century
Arabic manuscript on paper, in the lower half an invocation to Eyub Sultan written in thuluth script in mirror image, two teardrop-shaped cartouches, in the upper half texts from the Qur'an within cartouches representing stylised battle standards, floral sprays in each of the four corners, inner floral border, outer border with an undulating vegetal motif in gold, framed
420 x 312 mm.
420 x 312 mm.
Estimate:
£2,000 - 3,000
€2,400 - 3,500
US$ 3,000 - 4,600
€2,400 - 3,500
US$ 3,000 - 4,600
Footnotes
- Text:
In the banners, repetition of the shahadah, Qur'an, sura XLVIII (al-Fath), verses 1 and 3; sura LXI (al-Saff), part of verse 13, ending with 'O Muhammad' on the right banner.
The lower part in mirror form, and in the two tear-drops, repetition of: 'His Excellency 'Alamdar [standard-bearer] Khalid, may God be pleased with him'.
Eyub Sultan, also known as alamdar [standard bearer] Khalid, from his role in the siege of Byzantine Istanbul, was the patron saint of that city. The mosque at his shrine was where the girding ceremony took place as part of the enthronement ritual of the Ottoman Sultans. The stylised standards in the top half of the composition are therefore emblematic of Eyub Sultan.
Abdulfettah Effendi (1815-96) was a student of the famous calligrapher Yesarizade Mustafa Izzet Effendi (d. 1849), and from 1858 held the post of ser-sikkezen, head of the government office which produced the designs and made moulds for coinage and medals. His calligraphy features in some of the major buildings in Constantinople, e.g. the Suleymaniye Mosque and the Topkapi Saray. For examples of his work in the Sabanci Collection, see M. Ugur Derman, Sakip Sabanci Muzesi Hat Koleksiyonundan Secmeler, Istanbul 2002, pp. 162-63.
Category: Islamic and Oriental Art / Islamic and Indian Art
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