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Lot Essay
The calligrapher of this manuscript, Sulayman al-Qunawi, whose full name was Al-Sayyid Sulayman bin Ismail al-Qunawi (d. AH 1199/1785 AD) was granted his ijaza by his master, the famous calligrapher Husayn Halbi bin Ramadan¸ known as Husayn Ipigi Efandi (d. AH 1157/1744 AD). Ipigi Efendi was the student of Ikinci Dervish ‘Ali (d. AH 1128/1726 AD) who in turn was a student of the famous celebrated calligrapher Hafiz Osman (d. AH 1110/1689 AD).
In appreciation of his masterly of calligraphy, Sulayman Al-Qunawi was bestowed with the post of the calligraphy instructor at the Galta Palace School, taking the role of the former calligraphy master, Muhammad Nuri Efandi.
Works by Sulayman al-Qunawi are rare and our example is an extremely well preserved and lavishly illuminated example of his work. The manuscript opens with a selection of Qur’anic chapters including sura al-fatiha, al-baqara (v.1-5 and 255), alan'am, al-kahf, al-rahman, al-waqi'ah, al-mulk, al-naba' and all the suras between sura al-duha and sura al-nas. These are followed by prayers for the days of the week, and then a selection of prayers including the prayer of the Noble Seal (Mührü Şerif), The prayer of Sacrifice (Kurban), the Seven Verses (Sab’ Ayat). After the colophon, there are numerous diagrams and illustrations, each beautifully illuminated and decorated in polychrome. Some of these include hilayhs of the Prophets from Adam onwards, depictions of the Holy Places in Mecca and Medina, the genealogy (silsile) of the Prophet, the names of the Prophet, hilyas of the Four Rightly-Guided Caliphs, Hassan and Husayn, God’s Name, the Prophet’s Name, the Seal of Prophecy (Mührü Nübüvvet), the Seal of Solomon, the Noble Sandals, Dhu’l-Fiqar.
For further information on al-Qunawi see Mustaqim-Zadah, Tuhfah-I Khattatin, Istanbul, 1928, pp.172 and 210. A copy of An'am Sharif which bears similar illustrations to ours is in the Harvard Museum (inv.no. 1985.260. https://www.harvardartmuseums.org/art/215214). For further illustrations from this manuscript please see the title page and the following page.
In appreciation of his masterly of calligraphy, Sulayman Al-Qunawi was bestowed with the post of the calligraphy instructor at the Galta Palace School, taking the role of the former calligraphy master, Muhammad Nuri Efandi.
Works by Sulayman al-Qunawi are rare and our example is an extremely well preserved and lavishly illuminated example of his work. The manuscript opens with a selection of Qur’anic chapters including sura al-fatiha, al-baqara (v.1-5 and 255), alan'am, al-kahf, al-rahman, al-waqi'ah, al-mulk, al-naba' and all the suras between sura al-duha and sura al-nas. These are followed by prayers for the days of the week, and then a selection of prayers including the prayer of the Noble Seal (Mührü Şerif), The prayer of Sacrifice (Kurban), the Seven Verses (Sab’ Ayat). After the colophon, there are numerous diagrams and illustrations, each beautifully illuminated and decorated in polychrome. Some of these include hilayhs of the Prophets from Adam onwards, depictions of the Holy Places in Mecca and Medina, the genealogy (silsile) of the Prophet, the names of the Prophet, hilyas of the Four Rightly-Guided Caliphs, Hassan and Husayn, God’s Name, the Prophet’s Name, the Seal of Prophecy (Mührü Nübüvvet), the Seal of Solomon, the Noble Sandals, Dhu’l-Fiqar.
For further information on al-Qunawi see Mustaqim-Zadah, Tuhfah-I Khattatin, Istanbul, 1928, pp.172 and 210. A copy of An'am Sharif which bears similar illustrations to ours is in the Harvard Museum (inv.no. 1985.260. https://www.harvardartmuseums.org/art/215214). For further illustrations from this manuscript please see the title page and the following page.