Albüm

This muraqqa’ (album) of calligraphy in an accordion format was compiled in Ottoman Turkey in the 12th century AH (18th century AD). The medium is ink and pigments on paper mounted on thin pasteboard. It consists, in part, of leaves bearing fragmentary passages from the Qur’an, from chapter 2 (Sūrat al-baqarah), verses 65–68, and chapter 4 (Sūrat al-nisā’), verses 103–6. Also included are the hadith (the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad), and two sheets of karalama (pen exercises). The Qur'anic verses and the passages of hadith are written in vocalized Naskh and Thuluth scripts in black ink. Folio 5a bears the name of the Ottoman calligrapher, Şeyh Hamdullah, also called Ḥamd Allāh al-Amāsī, who died in 926 AH (1520 AD). Şeyh Hamdullah was the most celebrated calligrapher of his time and influenced subsequent generations of calligraphers. Each page in the album is framed by 18th-century marbled borders. The sheepskin binding with central lobed medallion has a central panel filled with chamois leather and is probably contemporary with the album. The manuscript is from the Walters Art Museum and is designated Walters W. 672. Arabic calligraphy; Islamic calligraphy; Islamic manuscripts