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Page with illuminated calligraphy, Hadith (Sayings of the Prophet Muhammad)

Ottoman period
17th century
Object Place: Turkey

Medium/Technique Ink, color and gold on paper; marbled paper
Dimensions Height x width: 14.9 × 22.9 cm (5 7/8 × 9 in.)
Credit Line Helen and Alice Colburn Fund
Accession Number29.116
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsAsia, Islamic Art
ClassificationsBooks and manuscripts
Ottoman calligraphers often demonstrated their skills by writing different styles and sizes of Arabic script on rectangular sheets of paper, which were then illuminated, mounted on pasteboard, and assembled into accordion fold albums, known as muraqqaʿ. This calligraphic panel containing Hadith, or sayings of the Prophet Muhammad, was composed using the thuluth style of script for the heading and the naskh style for the four small lines. An illuminator used opaque pigment and gold to add naturalistic flowers and other decorations to the two decorative side panels. To make the verse markers, an illuminator used gold to paint pinwheel medallion and ornately decorated them with pink, blue, and white pigments. This calligraphic panel is bordered by a gold margin and marbled papers speckled with gold leaf.

DescriptionSingle folio; calligraphy in thuluth and naskh with illuminated decoration
ProvenanceMiss Elizabeth (Riefstahl) Titzel (b. 1889 - d. 1986), New York; 1929, sold by Miss Elizabeth (Riefstahl) Titzel to the MFA for $5000.00 (total price for 29.56-136). (Accession Date: January 3, 1929)