AN ILLUMINATED OTTOMAN CALLIGRAPHER’S DIPLOMA, TURKEY, DATED 1301 AH/1883 AD

An Arabic manuscript on paper, 20 lines to the page, divided between 3 lines of large and bold thuluth script, and 17 lines of neat naskh script in black ink written horizontally and diagonally within cloud bands against a gold ground punched with cintamani motifs, various panels of rococo flowers, with blue outer margins. The present ijazeh was given to Muhammad Haqqi Efendi, and signed by his tutor Isma’il Resmi baba, as well as Hafiz Hussein Remzi and Muhammad Vehbi, in 1301 AH/1883 AD. The document is also signed by the illuminator Hussein Shukri (son of Isma’il Resmi), dated the same year. 43.5 by 27.8 cm.

PROVENANCE Sotheby’s London, 7 October 2015, lot 234.