• Art of the Islamic and Indian  auction at Christies

    Sale 12241

    Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds

    London

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    20 October 2016

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    • A LARGE AND EXTENSIVELY ILLUST
    Lot 184

    A LARGE AND EXTENSIVELY ILLUSTRATED OTTOMAN PRAYER BOOK

    SIGNED MUSTAFA AL-HILMI, EYUP, OTTOMAN ISTANBUL, DATED 13 MUHARRAM AH 1285/6 MAY 1868 AD

    Price realised

    GBP 62,500

    Estimate

    GBP 50,000 - GBP 80,000

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    A LARGE AND EXTENSIVELY ILLUSTRATED OTTOMAN PRAYER BOOK
    SIGNED MUSTAFA AL-HILMI, EYUP, OTTOMAN ISTANBUL, DATED 13 MUHARRAM AH 1285/6 MAY 1868 AD
    Arabic manuscript on paper, 330ff., three fly-leaves, each folio with 11ll. of strong black naskh in panels outlined in gold, blue and black, gold and polychrome verse roundels, catchwords, occasional marginal notes in black or red naskh sometimes contained within gold medallions, numerous paintings, including those of Mecca and Medina, 15 hilyehs, and occasional headings and tables within the text, opening bifolio with gold and polychrome illumination framing 5ll. of text in large roundels, three further similarly illuminated headpieces colophon signed and dated, numerous folios in original green morocco with flap decorated with gilt sunburst design, green paper doublures
    Text panel 7¾ x 4 3/8in. (19.6 x 11.1cm.); folio 10 7/8 x 7 1/8n. (27.4 x 18cm.)

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    Lot Essay

    This text opens with Qur'anic verses, followed by a prayer for the increase of intelligence. There then follow diagrams of the names of the Prophets, the Seal of Prophecy (mühr-ü nübüvvet), the hilyehs of the Prophet, the Four Rightly Guided Caliphs, Hassan, Husayn and Adam, diagrams of the seal of Adam, the Seal of the Prophet Muhammad, the Glorious Name (ism-i celal), the Name of the Prophet, the Banner (liva) of the Prophet, the Footprint of the Prophet, Dhu al-Fiqar (Zülfikar), the Names of the Select Companions, the Names of the Companions of the Cave (ashab-i kahf), the form of the letter 'ayn, the standards of the Prophet, the Rashidun, Hamza and various Companions, the forms of various letters, further prayers including ones for the increase of intelligence, for the making wholesome (tehlil) of meat, prayers to accompany the daily ritual and superogatory prayers, Prayer of the Great Imam (imam-i 'azem), prayer of gratitude for blessings, the Prayer of Ebussuud Efendi, prayer for Laylat al-Qadr. This is followed by a diagram of the names of the Companions of the Battle of Badr, the Hizb al-'Azam of 'Ali ibn al-Sultan Muhammad al-Qari and a double-page hilyeh of the Prophet. There is then the Dala'il al-Khayrat, prayers in Turkish and the Prayer of the Compact (uhudname). After the colophon there are further prayers including a prayer for the start of the recitation of the Qur'an, Prayer of the Blessed Light, Prayer of the Blessed Cup (kadeh), the Ya-Sin Prayer, a diagram of the Great Seal (mühr-ü kebir) and of the Seal of Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq.

    This manuscript is copied by Mustafa Al-Hilmi who was a pupil of Muhammad Vasfi and Muhammad Rashid Ayyubi. He also received different ijazas and studied the calligraphy of celebrated calligraphers including Mustafa Sakir Effendi and Mehmed Amin Rushdi. The colophon states that this manuscript was copied in the graveyard of the famous companion Abi Ayyub Al-Ansari in Istanbul.

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