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Manuscript/Mixed Material Wise saying (hikmah)

About this Item

Title

  • Wise saying (hikmah)

Created / Published

  • 18th-19th centuries

Headings

  • -  Calligraphy, Arabic
  • -  Manuscripts, Arabic--Washington (D.C.)
  • -  Iran
  • -  Arabic script calligraphy
  • -  Illuminated Islamic manuscripts
  • -  Islamic calligraphy
  • -  Islamic manuscripts
  • -  Naskh

Notes

  • -  Wise saying (hikmah) on the virtues of helping the poor (al-fuqara') in Arabic, in Naskh acript attributed to Persian calligraphers Mirza Ahmad Nayrizi (d. 1152/1739).
  • -  Dimensions of Written Surface: 11.8 (w) x 16.7 (h) cm
  • -  For a comparative piece signed by Vassal-i Shirazi and dated 1258/1842 held in the collections of the Library of Congress, see 1-04-713.15.6.
  • -  The fragment is neither dated nor signed. However, text panels such as this one, providing various Arabic-language prayers or proverbs in naskh script, were made by the famous naskh-revival Persian calligraphers Mirza Ahmad Nayrizi (d. 1152/1739) and Vassal-i Shirazi (d. 1262/1846) and their followers. For these reasons, it is possible that this calligraphic fragment was made in Iran in the 18th or 19th century.
  • -  The proverb begins on the penultimate line, continues on the last line of the text panel, and runs sequentially from the first line down. Several words are lost, replaced, and misspelled, suggesting that the piece was cut out (or salvaged) and pasted to this folio.
  • -  The text is executed in black naskh script on a biege paper and is framed by cloud bands on a gold background. The text panel is provided with two ornamental frames: The first is green with gold interlacing vines, while the second is white and decorated with pink and purple flower and leaf motifs. The text panel is then pasted to a larger sheet of salmon-orange colored paper decorated with flower motifs painted in gold and backed by a cardboard for strengthening.
  • -  This calligraphic fragment includes a proverb (hikmah) on the virtues of helping the poor (al-fuqara') and endurance in hardship. These qualities increase faith in the heart of the believer (fi qalb al-mu'min).
  • -  Script: naskh
  • -  1-04-713.19.35

Medium

  • 1 volume ; 19.5 (w) 21.2 (h) cm

Repository

  • Library of Congress African and Middle Eastern Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA

Digital Id

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 2019714547

Online Format

  • pdf
  • image

Additional Metadata Formats

IIIF Presentation Manifest

Rights & Access

The contents of the Library of Congress Selections of Arabic, Persian, and Ottoman Calligraphy are in the public domain or have no known copyright restrictions and are free to use and reuse.

Credit Line: Library of Congress, African and Middle East Division, Near East Section Persian Manuscript Collection

Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Wise Saying Hikmah. 18th-19th Centuries. Manuscript/Mixed Material. https://www.loc.gov/item/2019714547/.

APA citation style:

Wise Saying Hikmah. 18th-19th Centuries. [Manuscript/Mixed Material] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2019714547/.

MLA citation style:

Wise Saying Hikmah. 18th-19th Centuries. Manuscript/Mixed Material. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2019714547/>.