Written in similar fashion as X.434, this Arabic papyrus has black ink and a cursive script with rounded letter terminals. Unlike its peer, this fragment contains ten lines of a part of a letter. The format of a letter is visible here through the use of phrases of greeting, benedictory to the addressee and his family.
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Artwork Details
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Title:Papyrus Fragment
Date:8th–9th century
Geography:Made in Egypt
Medium:Ink on papyrus
Dimensions:H. 6 1/2 in. (16.5 cm) W. 9 13/16 in. (24.9 cm)
Classification:Codices
Credit Line:Museum Accession
Object Number:x.433
Papyrus Leaf
Although paper had already in the tenth century replaced parchment for even the finer copies of the Koran, the use of papyrus, particularly for legal and commercial correspondance and documents, persisted for two or three hundred years after the date of the present example. Certain phrases clearly indicate that this leaf is a letter, and others suggest that it concerns business affairs, though the exact nature of the contents of this fragment (or perhaps fragments from two different letters ) has not been ascertained.
This example of Arabic calligraphy displays the disciplined freedom, grace, and beauty of the early cursive style. Some, familiar only with artistically designed inscriptions in formal settings, may be surprised to find here features associated with a much later date. However, the overall style, as well as certain details such as the descent below the base line of the corrected alifs, confirms the early date. The inscription may profitably be compared, for example, with the ostracon in the name of the Caliph Hisham from Khirbat al-Mafjar.
Adapted from Manuel Keene in [The Arts of Islam: Masterpieces from the Metropolitan Museum of Art New York, 1981]
Unknownprovenance; accessioned by the Metropolitan Museum by 1975.
Berlin. Museum für Islamische Kunst, Pergamonmuseum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin. "The Arts of Islam. Masterpieces from the M.M.A.," June 15, 1981–August 8, 1981, no. 1.
"Masterpieces from The Metropolitan Museum of Art New York." In The Arts of Islam. Berlin, 1981. no.1, pp. 28–29, ill. (b/w).
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