Description:

 ESMAT O ALLAH: AN OTTOMAN CALLIGRAPHY PANEL, 18TH CENTURY
Ottoman Empire, 18th century

Description:
Ink, gold, and opaque watercolour on burnished paper; this exquisitely penned Ottoman calligraphy panel is attributed to Esmat o Allah, the nephew and student of the esteemed Mohammad Aref Yaqut. Executed in elegant naskh script, the panel is richly illuminated with gilt cloud bands and floral motifs at the base, all framed within a sequence of coloured rulings and a broad light-blue margin. The text, featuring religious invocations, praises of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and Qur’anic extracts, exemplifies the aesthetic refinement and devotional purpose central to Ottoman calligraphic tradition.

Dimensions:
43 x 33cm (page); 30.5 x 21cm (folio)

Comparable examples:

  • Sotheby’s, London, Arts of the Islamic World, 27 April 2021, Lot 51, Ottoman calligraphy by Hafiz Osman pupil, 18th century, £10,080 

  • Christie’s, London, Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds, 25 October 2018, Lot 36, Ottoman naskh calligraphy signed by a student of Yaqut al-Musta’simi, £9,375 

  • Bonhams, London, Islamic and Indian Art, 22 October 2019, Lot 45, Calligraphic panel attributed to an Ottoman master, mid-18th century, £8,500 

Note:
As a calligrapher of noble lineage and close association to the celebrated Aref Yaqut, Esmat o Allah represents a direct continuation of the Yaquti style. His works are rare and sought after for their refined execution and subtle embellishments, often reserved for Qur’anic manuscripts and pious inscriptions commissioned by elite Ottoman patrons. The present panel reflects a high degree of skill in both composition and ornamentation, underscoring the spiritual and artistic significance of Ottoman calligraphy in the 18th century.

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

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Bid Increments
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£0 £99 £5
£100 £199 £10
£200 £499 £20
£500 £999 £50
£1,000 £1,999 £100
£2,000 £4,999 £200
£5,000 £9,999 £500
£10,000 £19,999 £1,000
£20,000 £49,999 £2,000
£50,000 £99,999 £5,000
£100,000 £199,999 £10,000
£200,000 £499,999 £20,000
£500,000 £999,999 £50,000
£1,000,000 + £100,000