OTTOMAN TURKEY, 18TH CENTURY

Details

A GROUP OF OTTOMAN CALLIGRAPHIC EXERCISES (MASHQ)
OTTOMAN TURKEY, 18TH CENTURY
Arabic poetry in praise of the Prophet, each panel with dense thuluth script, with occasional gold roundels and floral sprays, all laid down between gold and polychrome rules on marbled, coloured or gold-speckled paper, one with attribution on the reverse to Ibrahim Afif Effendi, one signed Isma'il Zuhdi the Elder and dated 1140, one signed 'Abdullah Omar Effendi and one Salih Ref'et Effendi
Largest folio 7 7/8 x 9 7/8in. (20 x 25cm.) (6)

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Lot Essay

Isma'il Zuhdi the Elder (d. 1731 AD), also known as Isma'il the Elder, was born in Istanbul and practised calligraphy with Seyyid 'Abdullah of Yedikule (d. 1731 AD) and Anbarizade Dervish 'Ali (d. 1715). He got his ijazeh (calligrapher's diploma) from Suyolcu-zade Mehmed Necib Effendi (d. 1757 AD), the author of the Dawhat al-Quttab. Mustaqim-zade, the author of Tuhfe-i Hattatin ('The Biographies of Calligraphers'), notes that the famous Hoca Mehmed Rasim Effendi was present at this diploma ceremony. Isma'il Zuhdi the Elder was celebrated for his fine naskh and thuluth. He died in 1731 AH and was buried in Uskudar, Istanbul (Sevket Rado, Turk Hattatlari (Turkish Calligraphers), Istanbul 1980, pp. 135-36).

For a note on Ibrahim Afif Effendi, please see the following lot.

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