Book cover

Object Details

• Label

  An inscription, "Only the pure may touch it," suggests that this fine leather binding was intended for a copy of the Qur'an, although similar covers were used for secular manuscripts. Gold leaf highlights were created on block stamps, then pressed into the leather to leave a finely sculpted impression. The lavish application of gold leaf underlines the importance of manuscripts, such as the Qur'an, in the Islamic world.

• Provenance

  ?-1930

  Likely Gaston Migeon (1861-1930), method of acquisition unknown [1]

  1931

  Sale, Paris, Hôtel Drouot "Tableaux modernes, sculptures, estampes composant la collection de M. Gaston Migeon" March 18, 19, 20, and 21, 1931, lot 345 [2]

  1931-1942

  Henri Vever (1854-1942), reportedly purchased at the M. Gaston Migeon sale held at the Hôtel Drouot [3]

  1942-1947

  Jeanne Louise Monthiers (1861-1947), bequest of Henri Vever [4]

  1947-1986

  Francois Mautin (1907-2003), bequest of Jeanne Louise Monthiers and Henri Vever [5]

  From 1986

  Arthur M. Sackler Gallery purchased from Francois Mautin [6]

  Notes:

  [1]See note 2 and 3. Gaston Migeon (1861-1930) was a French art historian and curator in the Department of Objets d'Art of the Middle Ages, Renaissance, and Modern Period at the Louvre. He was also a highly regarded art critic and an early collector of East Asian and Islamic arts.

  He advised many of his contemporary collectors (including Henri Vever) and cultivated their interests in Japanese and Islamic art.

  [2] See Hôtel Drouot "Tableaux modernes, sculptures, estampes composant la collection de M. Gaston Migeon" [auction catalogue] (Paris: March 18, 19, 20, and 21, 1931), lot 345, 59. The book cover is described as "Petite reliure persane, à rabat, en cuir ciselé et partiellement doré.

  [3] An accomplished French jeweler and collector, Henri Vever (1854-1942) amassed a large and impressive collection of works of art during his lifetime. His holdings in Japanese prints and Islamic arts of the books, especially from Iran and India, were among the most important assembled in the early twentieth century. This book cover

  was in Vever's collection at the time of his death in 1942. Susan Nemazee notes that Vever purchased the book cover at the Hôtel Drouot sale (see note 2), see "Appendix 7: Chart of Recent Provenance" in "An Annotated and Illustrated Checklist of the Vever Collection" [exhibition catalogue] (Washington DC and Seattle WA: Arthur M. Sackler Gallery with University of Washington Press, 1988), 399.

  [4] Upon Henri Vever's death on September 25, 1942, his wife, Jeanne Louise Monthiers inherited the book cover. See exhibits F and G of Agreement of Purchase and Sale of the Henri Vever Collection, January 9, 1986, copy in object file.

  [5] Upon the death of Jeanne Louise Monthiers, as stipulated in the will of Henri Vever, the family's assets were divided evenly between his two grandchildren. His only grandson, Francois Mautin inherited the collection known as "The Henri Vever Collection of Oriental Art and Manuscripts Including Persian and Indian Art and Manuscripts." This book cover is part of that collection. See exhibits F and G as cited in note 4.

  [6] The Arthur M. Sackler Gallery purchased the entirety of the collection from Francois Mautin on January 9, 1986. See purchase agreement, copy in object file.

  Research completed on May 5, 2022.

• Collection

  Arthur M. Sackler Collection

• Exhibition History

  Gold: The Asian Touch (September 10, 2005 to February 20, 2006)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Francois Mautin (1907-2003)

  Jeanne Louise Monthiers (1861-1947)

  Henri Vever (1854-1942)

  Gaston Migeon (1861-1930)

• Origin

  Turkey

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Smithsonian Unrestricted Trust Funds, Smithsonian Collections Acquisition Program, and Dr. Arthur M. Sackler

• Type

  Book

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

  There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

  The information presented on this website may be revised and updated at any time as ongoing research progresses or as otherwise warranted. Pending any such revisions and updates, information on this site may be incomplete or inaccurate or may contain typographical errors. Neither the Smithsonian nor its regents, officers, employees, or agents make any representations about the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or timeliness of the information on the site. Use this site and the information provided on it subject to your own judgment. The National Museum of Asian Art welcomes information that would augment or clarify the ownership history of objects in their collections.

Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1700s, 1600s

• Name

  Migeon, Gaston, Mautin, Francois Albert, Monthiers, Jeanne Louise, Vever, Henri

• Topic

  Art, Henri Vever collection, Ottoman period (1307 - 1922), Arts of the Islamic World, Leatherwork

• Culture

  Muslims, Turks

• Object Type

  Books