AN OTTOMAN SILK AND METAL-THREAD CALLIGRAPHIC FRAGMENT
, TURKEY, 17TH CENTURY

Of figured silk, probably from a tomb cover, the black satin ground woven with a column of linked ovals each with a silver thread thuluth inscription flanked at each side by a similar smaller panel, a single band of inscription above. Embellished in cream colored weave of two bands “O, Allah! Commend and salute the Prophet Muhammed” with roundels enclosing names of the Prophet. Flanked by smaller roundels containing the names of Four Caliphs: Abu Bakr, Omer, Ottoman and Ali with his sons Hasan, Hussein, and the rest of the Asharatu mubashirun : Talha, Ibn Zubayer, Ibn Awaf, Sa`d, Abu Ubayda and Said ibn Zayd. Mounted and framed. 63 by 16 cm.

PROVENANCE Christies London, 23 October 2007, lot 35. From the property of the Dr. Amir Pakzad Museum, Hannover