ink drawing with some gold on paper, illuminated cornerpieces decorated with floral motifs in the rococo style, inner margins ruled in gold, outer borders of speckled blue paper, the inscription rasamahu al-naqqashi al-Sayyid Mustafa Edinarvi 1215 incorporated into a cartouche of vegetal sprays in gold, some tears skilfully repaired otherwise in good condition, in mount, framed
280 x 435 mm.

Footnotes

This unusual calligraphic composition was probably commissioned for one of the many Sufi orders which established themselves in various parts of the Ottoman Empire. Like a hilyeh, it would have decorated the walls of a meeting place where the devout sufis performed their rituals. The Shi'i inscriptions consists of sayings (hadith) of the Prophet Muhammad, and sayings of and invocations to Imam 'Ali, as follows: a Persian quotation by Abu Sa'id Abi'l-Khayr, a reference to a certain Abu 'Amr Uways ibn 'Amir, known as Uways Qarani (d. AH 37/AD 657), who lived in Yemen and met the Imam 'Ali and whose tomb is in a village in Qazvin in Iran. Further Shi'i inscriptions include a quatrain in praise of the Imam 'Ali in Turkish; a saying of the Prophet, 'I am the city of knowledge and 'Ali is its gate'; and the phrase 'There is no youth as brave as 'Ali'.

Saleroom notices

Please note that the last word of the scribe's name should read Edirnavi, and not as spelled in the catalogue.

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A calligraphic composition in the form of a camel being led by a veiled Prophet, and carrying a corpse wrapped in a shroud and the double-edged sword of Zulfiqar, signed by al-Sayyid Mustafa Edinarvi Ottoman Turkey, dated AH 1215/AD 1800-1801

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Oliver White