Description:

 AN ILLUMINATED WOODEN HILYE, SIGNED MUHAMMED AL-DAGH, DATED 1118 AH / 1704 AD, OTTOMAN, TURKEY, 18TH CENTURY
Ottoman Turkey, dated 1118 AH / 1704 AD

Description:
A rare and finely illuminated Ottoman wooden hilye panel, carved and painted with exquisite precision. The composition follows the classical hilye-i sherif layout, centred by a circular shamail medallion (containing the descriptive attributes of the Prophet Muhammad), flanked by ornate cartouches and bordered by gilded floral and geometric motifs. The piece is elegantly signed by the calligrapher Muhammed al-Dagh and is dated 1118 AH (1704 AD). Executed on wood and painted in polychrome and gold, the surface retains remarkable vibrancy and clarity for its age. This devotional object would likely have been displayed in a private home or religious space to inspire spiritual reflection and reverence.

Dimensions: 70 x 29 cm

Comparable examples:

  • An 18th-century Ottoman hilye in ink, gold, and gouache on paper, signed by Hafiz Osman, sold at Sotheby’s, Arts of the Islamic World, 24 October 2018, Lot 41, for £118,750.

  • A fine Ottoman hilye panel in wood and painted decoration, circa 18th century, sold at Bonhams, Islamic and Indian Art, 30 March 2021, Lot 162, for £37,750.

  • An Ottoman hilye manuscript page attributed to Mahmud Celaleddin, late 18th century, sold at Christie’s, Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds, 27 October 2022, Lot 49, for £60,000.

Note:
Wooden hilye panels are far rarer than their manuscript counterparts, and this example stands out for its early date, its large scale, and the high level of craftsmanship. The signature of Muhammed al-Dagh, a name scarcely encountered in known collections, adds further scholarly interest. This is an exceptional piece of devotional Ottoman calligraphy, embodying both aesthetic refinement and spiritual depth.

 

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May 6, 2025 1:00 PM BST
London, United Kingdom

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