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Petition to the grand vizier in pursuit of a position as scribe
Calligrapher: Ṣālih Efendi-zāde Meḥmed Emīn (Ottoman, 18th century)
about 1725
Object Place: Istanbul, Turkey
Medium/Technique
Ink, color and gold on paper; marbled paper
Dimensions
Height x width: 25.1 × 15.6 cm (9 7/8 × 6 1/8 in.)
Credit Line
Helen and Alice Colburn Fund
Accession Number29.72
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsAsia, Islamic Art
ClassificationsBooks and manuscripts
This petition to the grand vizier requesting a position as a scribe was written by Ṣālih Efendi-zāde Meḥmed Emīn, who later served as the Shaikhu'l-Islam to Sultan Abdülhamid I (r. 1774–1789). The petition corresponds to the early part of Ṣālih Efendi-zāde Meḥmed Emīn's career and suggests that the highest religious authority in the Ottoman Empire first attempted to enter into the service of the Ottoman government as a scribe. This would not be an unusal path for religiously trained persons, who also often trained in calligraphic arts. The reverse side contains marbled paper featuring soft u-shaped waves in orange, white, and two shades of blue.
DescriptionSingle folio; calligraphy in nasta'liq with illuminated decoration; marbled paper on reverse
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)