A STRIKING OTTOMAN ILLUMINATED CALLIGRAPHER'S DIPLOMA (IJAZEH OR ICAZETNAME)
TURKEY, AWARDED TO HASAN SAKIR AL-NAZMI, DATED AH 1266/ AD 1849-50
Estimate: £5,000 - £7,000
Auction: 11 June 2025 from 10:00 BST
Description
Arabic manuscript on paper, black ink, gouache and gold on paper, the large script in thuluth above proclaiming the bismillah against a a ground of gold scrolling leafy vines, followed by four lines in naskh script, three cusped cartouches below each comprising five lines in smaller thuluth script, the interstices and borders filled with gold scrolling leafy vines and polychrome floral cartouches, outer margin with a band of repeat floral-filled cartouches, mounted, framed and glazed
Dimensions
Sight size 18cm x 22cm
Footnote
During the Ottoman Empire, it was common practise for calligraphers to produce their final work, ijazeh or icazetname. Not only are these documents attractively decorated but they also act as an historical document. They usually begin with the bismillah, in so doing giving thanks to God for the capacity to write, followed by the name of the student and the date, and end with signatures by the calligraphers' tutors.
In the case of this diploma it has been signed by three tutors: Hafiz 'Ali al-Zuhdi, Hafiz Sulayman and Seyyid Mehmed Emin Fevzi.