From the Seat of the Ottoman Empire: An Illuminated 18th Century Qur’an, From the Library of Prominent Collector Otto Fisher
This ornate manuscript, complete, likely belonged to government or business elite of the Holy See
Last sold in the 1950s, likely from Erik Scherling, early Islamic manuscript dealer in the Netherlands
The Ottoman Empire can undoubtedly be called the greatest Muslim empire of all time; it remained for nearly 700 years. The empire was one of the largest and the longest ruling empires in history. This Islamic-run...
Last sold in the 1950s, likely from Erik Scherling, early Islamic manuscript dealer in the Netherlands
The Ottoman Empire can undoubtedly be called the greatest Muslim empire of all time; it remained for nearly 700 years. The empire was one of the largest and the longest ruling empires in history. This Islamic-run superpower ruled large areas of the Middle East, Eastern Europe and North Africa. It was based out of Istanbul, Turkey, also referred to as the Porte or Holy See.
Sunni Islam was the official religion of the Ottoman Empire. The highest position in Islam, caliph, was claimed by the sultan, and after the defeat of the Mamluks, it was known as the Ottoman Caliphate.
The 18th century was marked in 1768 by the Russo-Turkish war, a victory for the Russians.
The prominent families of the Ottoman Empire created ornate religious texts for their use. This was likely for use by a provincial elite or prosperous merchant of some sort.
Illuminated Qur’an in Arabic, 80 leaves, 160 pages of dense Arabic Naskh script, 31 lines per page, with the exception of the two decorated opening pages, folios 200mm x 135mm; Red words in the margins mark the30 ajzāʼ and 60aḥzāb that divide the text into regular portions for reading. The black words in the margins are scribal corrections. Contains concluding formula. Opening pages elaborately decorated with flowers; a gold border on each page. The cover appears to be leather with a golden medallion and border; likely original.
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