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Rebinding Kitab Al Azkar Imam Nawawi

July 21, 2014, 5:05 pm
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A while ago I posted a very old manuscript on Al Azkar Imam Nawawi. It is dated 667AH however the manuscript never been bounded. Its a loose manuscript wrapped with a leather cover. See below link :
Al Azkar Imam Nawawi

During my trip to Istanbul early this year, I brought with me this manuscript and sent to a binding company for a repair. I have to pay about USD200 but Masyallah the result was fantastic!! All loose pages were binded and leather cover is beautifully embossed.
See below photos after the repair.

Old leather wrapping
New cover



New embossed leather cover

Before : loose pages
After : bounded pages
After : Bounded





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Ancient Artifact Review 22 : Antique Ottoman Pen Case ( Divit) dated 1121 AH

July 23, 2014, 2:48 pm
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 This is an old Ottoman Pen case ( Divit) which measures  12" long with an inkwell at one end. It is beautifully decorated with floral motives. Made of brass and dated 1121 AH ( 1709 CE).


Compare with pen case from Iran Qajaf era
Qajar Qalamdan


Dim : 12in
Date : 1121 AH ( 1709 CE)
Material : Brass
Origin : Turkey
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Ancient Manuscript Review 133 : Antique Etiopian Ge'ez Coptic Gospel ( 20th century)

July 23, 2014, 3:28 pm
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 This is my another Coptic Bible written on vellum in Ge'ez language. I really dont know how to read this script. But the seller who is coptic herself told me that this is a gospel written in Ge'ez.
There are 3 pages with iconic drawings. On the last page, there is a thumb print I believe of the copyist.
Click these links to see my other Coptic Bibles

Coptic Gospel 1
Coptic Gospel 2
Coptic Gospel 3








Codicology



Title Page : Nil
Content    : Coptic Gospel
Date         : 20th Century CE
Copyist    : Anonymous
Patron      : Nil
Origin      : Etiopia
Place acquired : Etiopia
Illuminations :3 pages
Calligraphy :Ge'ez script
Number of lines : 23 lines per page
Inks          : Main text in black. Some key words in red.
Punctuation: Diacritical marks in black
Frame       :  Nil
History of Manuscript : Purchased from a contact in Etiopia
Number of folios : 150 ff
Support of writing : light yellowish vellum
Gatherings : N/A
Catchwords :Nil
Dimensions : 13.0 cm x 9.5 cm
Binding   :Maroon leather covers
Estimated Market Price :
Purchased Price : USD
Remarks :
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Ancient Manuscript Review 134 : Antique Ottoman Prayer Manuscript ( 18th Century)

August 10, 2014, 2:30 pm
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This is a small 18th Century CE Ottoman prayer manuscript consists of selective Quranic chapters, talismanic verses and some beautifully calligraphed. Borders gilded in gold. Bought from Istanbul.


Codicology


Title Page : Nil
Content    : Prayers
Date         : 18th Century CE
Copyist    : Anonymous
Patron      : Nil
Origin      : Turkey
Place acquired : Istanbul
Illuminations :
Calligraphy :Naskh & Thuluth scripts
Number of lines : varies
Inks          : Main text in black. Some key words in red.
Punctuation: Diacritical marks in black
Frame       :  Gold frame
History of Manuscript :
Number of folios : 50 ff
Support of writing : polished paper
Gatherings : N/A
Catchwords :Nil
Dimensions : 13.0 cm x 9.5 cm
Binding   :Brown leather covers
Estimated Market Price :
Purchased Price : USD
Remarks :
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Ancient Artifact Review 23 : Antique Ottoman Pen Case ( Divit) dated 1950 CE

August 10, 2014, 3:01 pm
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This is an old Ottoman Pen case ( Divit) which measures  8" long with an inkwell at one end. It is beautifully decorated with floral motives. Made of brass and dated 1950 CE. A tugra was also seen on one end.





Compare with another bigger Ottoman Divit & a pen case from Iran Qajaf era
Giant Ottoman Divit
Qajar Qalamdan


Dim : 8in
Date : 1950 CE
Material : Brass
Origin : Turkey
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Ancient Artifact Review 124 : Antique Ottoman Embroided Tombak dated 1168 AH ( 1754 CE)

August 10, 2014, 3:23 pm
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This is a big silk cloth beautifully embroided in Arabic calligraphy.I will translate the meaning of this wording later. There was a date 1168 AH embroided as well below the wordings. Floral border decorating this tombak. Bought in Istanbul.

Dim : 50in x 30in
Date : 1168 AH ( 1754 CE)
Material : Silk
Origin : Turkey
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Ancient Manuscript Review 135 : Antique Syriac / Aramaic / Garshuni Christian Manuscript 17th Century CE

August 15, 2014, 5:48 am
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This is my another Syriac / Garshuni manuscript. I believed its written no later than 19th century. If you know anything about the content of this manuscript please shed some lights .


Take a look of my other Syriac Manuscripts
Illuminated Antique Syriac Manuscript
Dated Antique Syriac Manuscript
Antique Syriac Manuscript
Antique Syriac Manuscript

Codicology
Title Page :Unknown
Content    :  Christian content
Date         : 17th CE
Copyist    : Anonymous
Patron      : Nil
Origin      : Diyerbakir, Turkey
Place acquired : Istanbul
Illuminations : Nil
Calligraphy : Syriac Serto
Number of lines :14 lines per page
Inks          : Main text in black with some headings in red
Punctuation: Diacritical marks in black
Frame       :  Nil
History of Manuscript : from a private library in Diyerbakir
Number of folios : 100 ff
Support of writing : yellowish laid paper
Gatherings : N/A
Catchwords :bottom left on recto page
Dimensions : 16.5 cm x 11.0 cm
Binding   : Leather covers
Estimated Market Price :
Purchased Price : USD
Remarks :

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Ancient Artifact Review 25 : Antique Malay Modesty Disc / Caping 19th Century CE

August 16, 2014, 3:40 pm
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This is a modesty disc or known as Caping in Malaysia. It is worn to cover a boy or a girl private part especially a toddler.Its widely used in the past by children in the Eastern coast of Malaysia. Caping is made either from gold, silver or brass depending on the children family social status.

The caping in my possession is made of brass and believed from 19th century CE.
Measured at 3in x 2 in


"Capings are heart-shaped plates that were used by Malays as a substitute for clothing and were worn suspended by chains mostly by infants girls and sometimes by small boys. They tended to be made from different materials according to the ranks of the wearers. Gold was reserved for the nobility, silver for dignitaries, and plates made of brass, copper or coconut shell for commoners. Babies tended to wear capings once they could stand, something that was often accompanied by a simple ceremony." 
( Ref: Kassim Haji Ali, M., Caping: Modesty Disc, Museum Association of Malaysia, 1983.)



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Ancient Manuscript Review 136 : Antique Ottoman Register ( 1061 AH / 1651 CE)

August 20, 2014, 2:01 pm
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This is a register book from an Ottoman era.Written neatly in Riqa and the register was binded in an oblong format ( safinah). The covers are made of hard boards and covered with marble papers. The Ottoman used marbled papers as manuscript covers starting from 17th century. Due to costly leather, marbled papers as substitute for manuscript covers were well received.
Marbling is done by transferring colours floating on the surface of a gum solution onto a paper. This method originated from Iran from 15th Century CE.
I dont have any knowledge on the content of this register as it was written in Turkish. This register is not officially dated but from the record written on the first few pages, there are some recorded dates as early as 1061 AH ( 1651 CE) till 1068 AH ( 1659 CE).




Codicology
 
Title Page :Unknown
Content    :  A register
Date         :  7 Rajab 1061 AH ( 1651 CE)
Copyist    : Anonymous
Patron      : Nil
Origin      : Istanbul, Turkey
Place acquired : Istanbul
Illuminations : Nil
Calligraphy : Riqa
Number of lines :
Inks          : Main text in black
Punctuation: Diacritical marks in black
Frame       :  Nil
History of Manuscript :
Number of folios : 12 ff
Support of writing : yellowish oriental paper
Gatherings : N/A
Catchwords :nil
Dimensions : 23.5 cm x 10.0 cm
Binding   : marble paper
Estimated Market Price :
Purchased Price : USD
Remarks :
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Ancient Manuscript Review 137 : Antique Etiopia Quran Box Set ( 18th Century CE)

August 24, 2014, 7:15 am
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This a wooden box which contains supposedly 30 manuscripts ( 30 juzs) for the complete Quran. The wood is thick and hard however the lid is a replacement.

 
This is a very rare acquisition because we dont see many Etiopian Quran especially with its box in the market or in international hands. 
 
Check my other Etiopian Quran manuscripts in box below :


Manuscript Specs

Item : Antique Etiopia Quran Box
Box Content : 29 manuscripts of Quran
Dim : 49 cm x 22 cm x 16 cm
Date : 18-19th century
Origin : Etiopia
Purchased Price :US
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Ancient Coin Review 64 : Patani-Kelantan Sultanate ( 16-18th Century)

October 15, 2014, 3:11 pm
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This is kijang gold kupang from kelantan-Patani circa 16th-18th century
Obv : Kijang deer facing left with tail pointing up . A band around the body. A crescent moon and sun above
rev: Al Adil
wt : 0.63gm
dim : 10.5mm
Ref Saran's : RR (SS57)
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Ancient Artifact Review 26 : Antique Quran / Talisman Silver Case from Iran / Afghanistan ( 19th Century CE)

October 15, 2014, 3:46 pm
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This is a Quran or Talisman silver case from Iran-Qajar- Afghsanistan . The Quran or the Talismanic manuscript must be small enough and in octoganal shape in order to fit in this box. The lid is engraved with the word Bismillah hiRahman nirRahim.  See below some miniature Qurans
Ottoman Sancak
Mini Quran

Dim : 55mm x 53cm
Date : 19th Century CE
Material : Silver
Origin : Iran / Afghanistan
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Ancient Manuscript Review 138 : Antique African Quran 18th Century CE

October 16, 2014, 2:06 pm
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I acquired this illuminated Quran from Istanbul in 2014. When I first looked at this manuscript, I thought it was a Chinese manuscript due to strong and bold certain characters especially  ر &  ى
 with elongated tails. The bright handpainted floral motive also a typical Chinese manuscript characteristic.
However the more I looked at it, I realized it is not Chinese's. The are not elongated like a sword like a typical Sini khat. The way it was binded with the use of cloth to attach the bind is typical of African. A lot of African Quran using floral motive in their Quran illumination.
I am comparing this Quran with my Quran from Somalia & Etiopia. The Somalia Quran tends to highlight the word Allah in red whereas this Quran khat more resemblance to the Quran from Etiopia.
I believe this Quran originated from East Africa and it could be Etiopia. If you have a similar Quran like mine and know the origin please feel free to let me know.
 
 See below my Quran from Somalia & Etiopia
Somali Quran
30 volumes Etiopian Quran
Etiopian Quran Comparison

Manuscript Specs


Item : Antique Africa Quran segment 
Manuscript Content : Quran
Dim : 23 cm x 17 cm x 2 cm
Date : 18-19th century
Copyist : 
Origin : Possible Africa
Calligraphy : Sudani??
Design : Written in Sudani scripts in black
Purchased Price :US
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Ancient Manuscript Review 139 : Antique Mamluk Quran Leaf ( 14th Century)

November 3, 2014, 1:35 pm
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This is a leaf I bought from Istanbul bazaar recently. The style of calligraphy is Muhaqqaq.

 Codicology


Title Page :
Content    : Surah  from Al Quran
Date         :14th century
Copyist    : Anonymous
Patron      : n/a
Origin      :Turkey
Place acquired : Istanbul
Illuminations : Nil
Calligraphy : Main text in Muhaqqaq script.
Number of lines :13 lines per page
Inks          : Black
Punctuation: 3 red dots.
Frame       : nil
History of Manuscript : Acquired from a friend who has a manuscript bazaar in Istanbul. Claimed to be Mamluk's
Number of folios : 1 f
Support of writing : creamy polished paper
Gatherings : N/A
Catchwords :Nil
Dimensions : 32.0 cm x  24.5 cm
Binding   : Nil
Estimated Market Price :
Purchased Price : USD
Remarks : Compare the calligraphy with my other Muhaqqaq Quran as below link.
Giant Quran Leaf 
Mamluk Leaf 
Syrian Muhaqqaq Quran
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Ancient Artifact Review 27 : Antique Afghanistan Pen Case & Ink well (19th Century)

November 5, 2014, 12:58 pm
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This is an old Afghan Pen case & ink well  which measures  26cm long with an inkwell at one end. It is made of brass and plain. It was purchased from Abu Dhabi and the seller claimed it was acquired from Afghanistan. I try to search around anything similar to this but couldn't find any. It looks different than my other pen case below
Ottoman Divit
Giant Ottoman Divit
Qajar Qalamdan

Dim : 26cm
Date : 19th Century
Material : Brass
Origin : Afghanistan
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Ancient Manuscript Review 140 : Antique Hebrew Scroll ( 19th Century)

November 5, 2014, 1:07 pm
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I purchased this scroll from a contact a while ago in 2014. It was written in hebrew on leather. I couldn't identify the content of this scroll. It is measured at 12cm x 13cm with blank on the recto. Anyone who can read Hebrew hopefully will contact me to translate this scroll.
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Ancient Coin Review 65 : Al Nasir Yusuf Salah Al Din II ( The last Ayyubid Caliph, 1237-1260 CE)

November 8, 2014, 9:25 am
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This is a Dirham from the reign of Ayyubid Caliph Al Nasir Yusuf Salahdin II, the great grandson of Saladin the great and the last Ayyubid ruler.

Coin Specs

Item : Dirham of Caliph Al Nasir Yusuf Salah Al Din II
Obv : Al Imam Al Mu'tasir Khalifatul Mukminin
Rev : AlMalik AlNasr Yusuf Abdul Malik Muhammad
Weight : 2.85gm
Diam : 22mm
Denom : Dirham
Metal : AR
Year : Unknown
Mint : Aleppo
Rarity :
Purchased Price : USD
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Ancient Artifact Review 28 : Malay Chinese Peranakan Silver Pillow Ends / Plates / Tampok Bantal ( 19th Century)

November 19, 2014, 2:14 pm
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These are decorated silver plates which are sewn onto both ends of a bolster ( bantal peluk). These are typical Malaysia or Singapore origin.
In Malay and Peranakan Chinese weddings, the bridal bed is decorated including pillows and bolsters. For a royal wedding, gold plates are used instead.
These silver plates are Peranakan Chinese origin. This is due to the fact that there are engravings of birds among the floral & foliate motives. Malay plates normally do not have any animal engravings due to the Islamic tradition.


Specification :
Description : Peranakan Chinese bolster plates / Tampok Bantal
OD : 4 inches
Material : Silver
 
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Ancient Artifact Review 29 : Antique Ottoman Calligraphers' Scissors (19th Century)

November 21, 2014, 2:59 pm
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This pair of scissors is a part of calligrapher kits. The scribes normally have 2 type of scissors; the first one is called a calligrapher scissors and the second one is called book binder scissors.
The one in this review is the first one which is the calligrapher scissors.
This scissors is used to cut thin paper. It has long and thin blades so that it can cut a thin paper with a single move. When their blades are closed and on each other, they look as if to have a single blade.
The scissors in review is made of steel and ornamented in gold.The inlays have floral & foliate motives on both side of the scissors. Handles are made of brass.

Artifact Specs

Item : Antique  Ottoman Calligrapher Scissors
Description : A pair of steel scissors with floral & foliate gold inlaid and brass handles
Dim : 260mm
Date : 18-19th century
Origin : Turkey
Purchased Price :US
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Ancient Manuscript Review 141 : Antique Malay Manuscript ( 19th Century)

November 22, 2014, 5:00 am
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This is a manuscript on Arabic grammar written in an old Malay language. Acquired from Central Market in Malaysia in 2014. Undated but it is estimated from 19th Century. Some pages are burned due to the acid from the ink.

Manuscript Specs

Item : Antique Malay Manuscript
Content : Arabic Grammar
Dim :  200mm  x  170mm x 10mm
Date : 18-19th century
Copyist : anonymous
Origin : Malaysia
Calligraphy : Malay
Design : Written in Malay scripts in red & black with Arabic with some translation in Malay
Purchased Price :US
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