AN OTTOMAN TALISMANIC SHIRT, 18TH CENTURY

A shirt (jama) covered with text written in thuluth and square Kufic scripts, in assorted colors, roundels and cartouches. The inscriptions include quotations from the Quran, invocations to Allah, attributes of Allah and prayers, beautiful names of Allah. To the front side: two squares enclosing inscriptions in square Kufic of Klimaat al-Tawhid, ‘Muhammed and the names of the four Rashidun Caliphs’ surrounded by two verses of the Quran within rectangulars. Ruled by two borders enclosing inscriptions written in green and red thuluth script, Quran 94 surah Al-Inshirah and surah 97 surah Al-Qadr . On both sides of the chest a large rectangular enclosing the bismallah and the first verse of surah Al-Fath on a foliage scroll decorated ground. On each side of the collar and running downwards Quran 59 surah Al-Hashr written in blue and gold thuluth script. The right sleeve with small panels enclosing ‘Allah’ in square Kufic script and two panels on both sides of the sleeve surrounding. Surah Al-Ikhlas and surah Al-Kawthar. The left sleeve with small panels enclosing ‘Muhammed’ in square Kufic script and two panels on both sides surrounding surah Al-Asr and surah Quraysh.The reverse side with multiple squares enclosing invocations to Allah in a black square script and surah Al-Ikhlas and other verses in thultuh script. The lower section on both sides decorated with foliage scrolls 90 by 75 cm.