LOT NOT PRESENTED LIVE. - Lot 27

LOT NOT PRESENTED LIVE. PRIOR REGISTRATION REQUIRED TO BID WITH A €30,000 DEPOSIT PLEASE CONTACT US BY EMAIL: LYON@DEBAECQUE.FR Important Qur'an attributed to Sheykh Hamdullah Ink, polychrome pigments and gold on paper Turkey, early 16th century, Ottoman Empire, luxuriously bound in the 19th century (conservation work with some elements added to the decoration) H. 20.3 cm- W. 14.8 cm- D. 4.5 cm AR This splendid early 16th-century Qur'an was attributed to the famous calligrapher Sheykh Hamdullah (d. 1520) by a group of leading Ottoman calligraphers and calligraphy experts at the end of the 19th century. At the end of the manuscript is an illuminated cartouche, containing a text dated Safar 1307 (1889), indicating that this group of experts examined this Qur'an and, asserting that it is the work of master calligrapher Sheykh Hamdullah, known as "Ibn al-Sheykh" in his heyday. Each member of this committee of calligraphers affixed his signature and personal seal, under the illuminated cartouche, to confirm this opinion. These famous calligraphers knew Hamdullah's style and hand, in particular Yahya Hilmi Efendi and Hasan Rıza Efendi, the greatest naskh specialists of their time. The signatures and seals that appear on this cartouche are, from right to left, as follows: 1 Seyyid Ahmed 'Arif. Known as Bakkal (the "grocer"). Above his signature and the imprint of his seal, the word "Filibevi" has been inscribed. Born in 1286/1830 in Filibe (Plovdiv), also known as Hacı Arif Efendi, he obtained his calligraphy diploma from Hafız İsmail Efendi and went to Istanbul, where he opened a grocery store. In Istanbul, he met the famous calligrapher Şevki Efendi who, recognizing his talent, agreed to take him on as a pupil. After winning a competition to become a calligraphy teacher at the Nuruosmaniye mosque, he closes his grocery store. He died in 1327/1909 (Rado, p. 23). 2. sami efendi. Born in Istanbul in 1253/1838, he was a master of several styles of writing and recognized as one of the leading calligraphers of his time. He was particularly famous for his compositions in the thuluth style known as celi. He was employed for a time as secretary to the Imperial Council and taught at the royal palace. His compositions adorn many of Istanbul's mosques and public structures, including the Cihangir and Altunizade mosques, the Yeni mosque fountain, the Nallı mosque, the Kapali Çarşi gate. Many famous calligraphers, including Riza Efendi (see below), were among his pupils. He was paralyzed in his final years and died in 1330/1912 (Rado, pp. 240-241; Derman, pp. 142-144). 3 Yahya Hilmi Efendi. Born in Istanbul in 1249/1833, he studied with Ahmet Hazım, Mehmed Haşim Efendi and Halil Zühdi Efendi and became one of the greatest naskh calligraphers of his time. He served in the office of the Ministry of War, rising through the ranks to become its director. When he affixed his seal to this Koran, he signed as mümeyyiz (inspector) of the third division of the Ministry of War (Rado, pp. 233-234; Derman, p. 138). 4 Seyyid Ahmed Hilmi. Originally from Crete, he moved to Istanbul with his family at an early age and studied with the famous calligraphers şefik Bey and Mustafa İzzet Efendi. Here, he signed his seal imprint as a member of the Council of Orphans and Widows. 5. Hasan Rıza Efendi. Born in Üsküdar, Hasan Rıza Efendi was a pupil of Yahya Hilmi and, like his master before him, became one of the most famous naskh calligraphers of the late Ottoman period. After a stay in Tirnova, where his father was postmaster, he returned to Istanbul, where he studied with the great masters of the time, such as Şefik Bey, Mustafa Izzet Efendi and Sami Efendi. He was imam and then professor of calligraphy at the Imperial College of Music (Rado, pp. 249-251; Derman, p. 156). It is with the latter title that he has signed his seal imprint here. 6 Abdullah Muhsinzade. He was the grandson of the statesman Damad Mahmud Pasha and the son of Mehmed Bey, director of the imperial stables. He was born in Kuruçeşme in 1832. He was employed in various ministries and replaced the famous calligrapher Şevki Efendi as professor of calligraphy at the military scribe training school in 1877. Sultan Abüldhamid II then conferred on him the title of reisü'l-hattatin (chief calligrapher), and it is with this title that he has affixed his seal here. He studied first with Hafız Mehmed Efendi, then with Mustafa Izzet Efendi, who immediately recognized his pupil's talent. He died in 1894 of a stroke while cultivating his ja