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Calligraphic Galleon
Additional Images (3)

Calligraphic Galleon

'Abd al-Qadir Hisari

Object Name: Illustrated single work
Date: dated A.H. 1180/ A.D. 1766–67
Geography: Turkey
Culture: Islamic
Medium: Ink and gold on paper
Dimensions: H. 19 in. (48.3 cm) W. 17 in. (43.2 cm)
Classification: Codices
Credit Line: Louis E. and Theresa S. Seley Purchase Fund for Islamic Art and Rogers Fund, 2003
Accession Number: 2003.241
Not on view
Description Object Information Related Objects Online Resources Video Audio
The hull of this sailing ship comprises the names of the Seven Sleepers and their dog. The tale of the Seven Sleepers, found in pre-Islamic Christian sources, concerns a group of men who sleep for centuries within a cave, protected by God from religious persecution. Both hadith (sayings of the Prophet), and tafsir (commentaries on the Qur'an) suggest that these verses from the Qur'an have protective qualities.
  • Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

    Signature: 'Abd al-Qadir Hisari

    Inscription: Inscription in at upper-left corner:
    كتبه الفقيرالمذنب عبد القادر الحصاري في السا کین(?) اناطولى سنة ١١٨٠
    Written by the poor sinner ‘Abd al-Qadir al-Hisari living in [?] Anatolia [in the] year A.H. 1180 [A.D. 1766 – 67]

    Inscription in gold, forming the hull and deck of the ship, the names of the Seven Sleepers along with their dog Qitmir;
    on the stern within a gold disk, the tughra of the Ottoman sultan

    Inscription below the tughra:
    السلطان بن السلطان السلطان مصطفى خان بن السلطان احمد خان
    The Sultan, son of the Sultan, the Sultan Mustafa [III] Khan, son of the Sultan Ahmad [III] Khan

    Inscribed in Arabic on the flagpole: [Qur’an 2:255 (the “Throne Verse”)]

    Inscription in Ottoman Turkish on the waves of the sea, a prose text relating to navigation and the sea; in larger script,
    framing the image, poetic verses in Ottoman Turkish
    Inscription in Arabic in smaller script, framing the image:
    اللهم صل علی سیدنا محمد و علی آل محمد سید الفائزین
    May God bless our Master Muhammad and the Family of Muhammad, Master of the Victors

  • Provenance

    [ Ciancimino & Co, London, in 1965]; [ Francesca Galloway,London, until 2003; sold to MMA]

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