Name of Object:Qur’an Location:Sultanahmet, Istanbul, Turkey Holding Museum:Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts About Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts, Sultanahmet Date of Object:Hegira Rajab 899 / AD April 1494 Artist(s) / Craftsperson(s):Calligrapher: Sheikh Hamdullah (Hamd Allah, AH 840?–926? / AD 1437?–1520?). Museum Inventory Number:402 Material(s) / Technique(s):Finished (aharlı) paper, leather, ink, watercolour, gilding, tooling on the leather binding. Dimensions:Height 33.5 cm, width 23.5 cm Period / Dynasty:Ottoman Provenance:Istanbul, Turkey. Description:The work in all its aspects reflects the full maturity of the style for its time. It was produced as 265 folios of finished (aharli) paper with 14 lines per page of naskhi script in black ink. The book's introduction features a double-page illumination. The chapter title frames, marginal rosettes and the colophon page are also illuminated. The illumination includes freely brushed cloud compositions placed side by side with traditional motifs like Chinese-inspired floral motifs (e.g. peonies), arabesques, palmettes and spiralling tendrils. The attempt to reach beyond traditional compositional formulas continues in the illumination, placed in between letters and in the flower and leaf compositions springing from the frames or letters. View Short DescriptionThis Qur'an was copied by Sheikh Hamdullah, who established a school of Ottoman calligraphy. Its calligraphy, illumination and exquisite binding make it a masterpiece of Early Ottoman period book arts. Original Owner:The name of the original owner is not known. However, the work bears the seals of both Sultan Mahmud I (r. AH 1143–68 / AD 1730–54), and the inspector of pious foundations (waqf), Derviş Mustafa, (in office during the first quarter of the AH 12th / AD 18th century). Although these seals do not identify the actual structure to which this Qur’an was dedicated, it is inferred that it was dedicated to a mosque or a tomb How date and origin were established:The colophon states that it was written in Rajab 899 / April 1494. How Object was obtained:The book was transferred to the Museum from the Library of the Ayasofya Mosque in Istanbul in 1914. How provenance was established:The high-quality calligraphy, illumination and binding of the work all suggest that it was produced in the Topkapı Palace workshops in Istanbul. Sultan Bayezid II was quite passionate about the art of calligraphy. When he was a prince governing Amasya, he was tutored in calligraphy by Sheikh Hamdullah (Hamd Allah). When he ascended the throne, he invited his tutor to teach calligraphy in Topkapı Palace. Thus, it is highly likely that this Qur'an was prepared for Sultan Bayezid II in the workshops of Topkapı Palace. Selected bibliography:Çığ, K., Türk Kitap Kapları (Turkish Book Bindings), Istanbul, 1971, Fig. IV. Citation of this web page:Sevgi Kutluay "Qur’an" in Discover Islamic Art, Museum With No Frontiers, 2024. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;ISL;tr;Mus01;20;en Prepared by: Sevgi Kutluay
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