Prayer Book

ca. 1900

Not on view

This prayer book comprises a compilation of loose folios that are held together within a leather wrap-cover. This construction is characteristic of West African devotional bookmaking traditions. The text is written in the barnavi script (particular script from Borno), common in Nigeria and Chad and distinguished by bold application, round letters, and short letter-shafts. Additional characteristics of this prayer book are the decorative geometrical tables that serve to divide chapters and sections. Typical for Dala’il al-Khayrat prayer books, this example includes an illustration of the holy site of Medina, rendered in an abstract geometric style. In addition to reflecting the artistic vibrancy of West and Sub-Saharan Africa, these patterns and themes bear talismanic and other meanings that surpass the devotional function of such manuscripts.

Artwork Details

Object Information

Overview

Provenance

Title: Prayer Book
Date: ca. 1900
Geography: Made in probably northern Nigeria, Sub-Saharan Africa
Medium: Ink, and opaque watercolors on paper; embossed leather cover
Dimensions: H. 7 in. (17.8 cm)
W. 5 in. (12.7 cm)
D. 1 1/14 in. (3.2 cm)
Classification: Codices
Credit Line: Purchase, Friends of Islamic Art Gifts, and funds from various donors, 2025
Object Number: 2025.577
Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

More Artwork

In the same medium

From the same time and place

Dala'il al-Khayrat Prayer Book, Iron-gall ink and opaque watercolors on paper; leather case; paper-mâché front and back covers — Dala'il al-Khayrat Prayer Book
ca. 1900–1950

Qur'an, Ink and opaque watercolor on paper; embossed leather cover — Qur'an
19th century

Overflap and Inside Cover of a Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizami of Ganja, Nizami, Binding: leather; embossed, gold, and color <br/>Manuscript: ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper — Overflap and Inside Cover of a Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizami of Ganja
Multiple artists/makers
dated 931 AH/1524–25 CE

Notebook of Calligraphy, Ink and gold on paper with embossed leather cover — Notebook of Calligraphy
dated Muharram 1170 AH/October 1756 CE

Miscellany of Prayers and Suras from a Qu'ran, Abu Talib al-Isfahani Iranian, Miscellany: ink and opaque watercolor on embossed colored paper <br/>Binding: pasteboard, opaque watercolor, and gold under lacquer — Miscellany of Prayers and Suras from a Qu'ran
Calligrapher Abu Talib al-Isfahani
dated 1250 AH/1835 CE

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