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← search Album of Ottoman calligraphy W.672
Manuscript Overview
References
Bindings & Oddities

Abstract

This album (muraqqaʿ) of calligraphy in an accordion format was compiled in Ottoman Turkey in the twelfth century AH / eighteenth CE. It consists of leaves bearing fragmentary passages from the Qur’an (chapter 2 [Sūrat al-baqarah], 2:65-68 and chapter 4 [Sūrat al-nisāʾ], 4:103-106); sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (hadith); and two sheets of pen exercises (ḳaralama). The Qur'anic verses and the passages of hadith are written in vocalized naskh and thuluth scripts in black ink. Fol. 5a bears the name of the Ottoman calligrapher Şeyh Hamdullah (Ḥamd Allāh al-Amāsī, d. 926 AH / 1520 CE). Şeyh Hamdullah was the most celebrated calligrapher of his time and influenced subsequent generations of calligraphers. Each page in the album is framed by eighteenth-century marbled borders. The sheepskin binding with central lobed medallion has a central panel filled with chamois leather and probably dates to the twelfth century AH / eighteenth CE.

Hand note

Written in calligraphic, vocalized naskh and thuluth scripts in black ink

Contributors

Principal cataloger: Gacek, Adam

Cataloger: Landau, Amy

Cataloger: Smith, Sita

Editor: Bockrath, Diane

Contributor: Barrera, Christina

Contributor: Emery, Doug

Contributor: Herbert, Lynley

Contributor: Noel, William

Contributor: Simpson, Shreve

Contributor: Tabritha, Ariel

Contributor: Toth, Michael B.

Contributor: Valle, Chiara

Conservator: Jewell, Stephanie

Conservator: Quandt, Abigail

These are pages that we pulled aside that disrupted the flow of the manuscript reader. These may be bindings, inserts, bookmarks, and various other oddities.

Upper board outside

Lower board outside

Lower board back

6a back

5b back

5a back

4b back

4a back

3b back

3a back

2b back

2a back

1b back

Upper board back

Back-edge

Fore-edge

Head

Tail

Keywords
Calligraphy
Colophon
Islamic
Koran
Ottoman
Prayer
Qur`an
Scripture
Turkey
Accordion book
Album

Origin Place

Turkey

Date

10th century AH / 16th CE -- 12th century AH / 18th CE

Form

album

Binding

Non-original Binding

Binding Description

Probably dates to the twelfth century AH / eighteenth CE; sheepskin-covered boards; central oval medallion; pendants and cornerpieces; gold-painted border; central panel filled with chamois leather

Language

The primary language in this manuscript is Arabic.

Acquisition

Walters Art Museum, 1931, by Henry Walters bequest

← search Album of Ottoman calligraphy W.672

Origin Place

Turkey

Date

10th century AH / 16th CE -- 12th century AH / 18th CE

Form

album

Language

The primary language in this manuscript is Arabic.

Acquisition

Walters Art Museum, 1931, by Henry Walters bequest

Manuscript Overview

Abstract

This album (muraqqaʿ) of calligraphy in an accordion format was compiled in Ottoman Turkey in the twelfth century AH / eighteenth CE. It consists of leaves bearing fragmentary passages from the Qur’an (chapter 2 [Sūrat al-baqarah], 2:65-68 and chapter 4 [Sūrat al-nisāʾ], 4:103-106); sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (hadith); and two sheets of pen exercises (ḳaralama). The Qur'anic verses and the passages of hadith are written in vocalized naskh and thuluth scripts in black ink. Fol. 5a bears the name of the Ottoman calligrapher Şeyh Hamdullah (Ḥamd Allāh al-Amāsī, d. 926 AH / 1520 CE). Şeyh Hamdullah was the most celebrated calligrapher of his time and influenced subsequent generations of calligraphers. Each page in the album is framed by eighteenth-century marbled borders. The sheepskin binding with central lobed medallion has a central panel filled with chamois leather and probably dates to the twelfth century AH / eighteenth CE.

Hand note

Written in calligraphic, vocalized naskh and thuluth scripts in black ink

References

Contributors

Principal cataloger: Gacek, Adam

Cataloger: Landau, Amy

Cataloger: Smith, Sita

Editor: Bockrath, Diane

Contributor: Barrera, Christina

Contributor: Emery, Doug

Contributor: Herbert, Lynley

Contributor: Noel, William

Contributor: Simpson, Shreve

Contributor: Tabritha, Ariel

Contributor: Toth, Michael B.

Contributor: Valle, Chiara

Conservator: Jewell, Stephanie

Conservator: Quandt, Abigail

Bindings & Oddities

These are pages that we pulled aside that disrupted the flow of the manuscript reader. These may be bindings, inserts, bookmarks, and various other oddities.

Upper board outside

Lower board outside

Lower board back

6a back

5b back

5a back

4b back

4a back

3b back

3a back

2b back

2a back

1b back

Upper board back

Back-edge

Fore-edge

Head

Tail

Keywords
Calligraphy
Colophon
Islamic
Koran
Ottoman
Prayer
Qur`an
Scripture
Turkey
Accordion book
Album
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