Book of prayers
Terms of Use
Usage Conditions ApplyAt A Glance
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Period
January 1715 (Muharram 1127 A.H.) -
Geography
Turkey -
Material
Ink, color and gold on paper -
Dimension
H x W: 23.5 x 41.1 cm (9 1/4 x 16 3/16 in) -
Accession Number
S1986.482 -
EDAN ID
edanmdm:fsg_S1986.482
Object Details
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Calligrapher
Sayyid-Ali al-Hamdi (Hafiz al-Qur'an) -
Description
Manuscript; Book of prayers; Arabic in black naskh script, colophon in tawqi' script; illuminated headings in white; 197 folios with 6 double-page illumination (fols.173-178 recto and 172-177 verso),1 sarlawh (folio 1 verso), 1 unwan (folio 10 verso); colophon (folio 195 recto); standard page: 1 column, 7 lines.Binding: The manuscript is bound in leather over paper pasteboards with a gilt medallion, cornerpieces, and doublures of leather decorated with gilt. The envelop flap has a border and surface identical to that on the upper and lower covers. -
Inscriptions
Folio 195 recto: Written by the poor slave Sayyid-Ali al- Hamdi, known as Hafiz al-Qur'an, in the beginning of the holy month of Muharram in the year [A.H.] one thousand hundred and twenty-seven [A.D. January 1715].old matting: clipping from auction catalogue, Hôtel Drouot, "Beaux Manuscrits -- Arabes, Turcs et Persans," May 9, 1899, lot 3 and descriptionold matting: clipping from auction catalogue, annotation "Est. D. rpox" in pencilold matting: clipping from auction catalogue, annotation "H. V. 1899" in pencil, -
Provenance
?-1899Unknown collector, mode of acquisition unknown [1]1899Sale, Hôtel Drouot, "Beaux Manuscrits -- Arabes, Turcs et Persans," May 9, 1899, lot 3 [2]1899-1942Henri Vever (1854-1942), purchased at Hôtel Drouot [3]1942-1947Jeanne Louise Monthiers (1861-1947), bequest of Henri Vever [4]1947-1986Francois Mautin (1907-2003), bequest of Jeanne Louise Monthiers and Henri Vever [5]From 1986Arthur M. Sackler Gallery purchased from Francois Mautin [6]Notes:[1] See note 2.[2] See Hôtel Drouot, "Beaux Manuscrits -- Arabes, Turcs et Persans," [auction catalogue] (Paris, May 9, 1899), lot 3. The sale is of a private collection and does not identify the owner.[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. Vever acquired this work at the Hôtel Drouot on May 9, 1899, which he attended with fellow collector and friend, Albert Besnard (1849-1934). See Henri Vever, Diary, 1899-1899, Box 1, Folder 5, National Museum of Asian Art Archives, FSA.A.1988.04. Vever reports: "Afternoon at the Hôtel Drouot [at a] sale of Persian miniatures. I am next to Besnard, and we chat a bit. He has bought a few pieces and me too ... there are so many beautiful ones." The work remained in Vever's collection at the time of his death.[4] Upon Henri Vever's death on September 25, 1942, his wife, Jeanne Louise Monthiers inherited the object. 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 object is part of that collection. See exhibits F and G as cited in note 3.[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 updated June 5, 2023 -
Collection
Arthur M. Sackler Collection -
Exhibition History
Intimate Rituals and Personal Devotions: Spiritual Art Through the Ages (August 12, 2000 to January 14, 2001)The Divine Word of Islam (July 4, 1993 to January 2, 1994)A Jeweler's Eye: Islamic Arts of the Book from the Vever Collection (November 20, 1988 to April 30, 1989) -
Previous custodian or owner
Francois Mautin (1907-2003)Jeanne Louise Monthiers (1861-1947)Henri Vever (1854-1942) -
Origin
Turkey -
Credit Line
Purchase — Smithsonian Unrestricted Trust Funds, Smithsonian Collections Acquisition Program, and Dr. Arthur M. Sackler -
Type
Manuscript -
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.
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