Tickets
English
DonateMembershipTickets

Hilya (Votive Tablet)

18th century
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 803
Hilya, Arabic for "ornament," refers to a genre of Ottoman Turkish literature associated with the physical description of Muhammad. The concept originated from the shamayil, the study of Muhammad’s appearance and character. According to Ottoman belief, reading or possessing an account of Muhammad’s attributes protects one from danger, harm, evil, and sickness. It became customary to carry a hilya in the form of a scroll, calligraphic study, or an amulet. In the seventeenth century, hilyas developed into an art form with a standardized layout.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Hilya (Votive Tablet)
  • Date: 18th century
  • Geography: Attributed to Turkey
  • Medium: Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper; wood
  • Dimensions: H. 27 7/8 in. (70.8 cm)
    W. 10 1/2 in. (26.7 cm)
    D. 3/8 in. (1 cm)
  • Classification: Codices
  • Credit Line: The Grinnell Collection, Bequest of William Milne Grinnell, 1920
  • Object Number: 20.120.274
  • Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
Helmet with Aventail, Steel, iron, silver, copper alloy, Turkish, in the style of Turkman armor
Helmet with Aventail
Turkish, in the style of Turkman armor
late 15th–16th century
Hilya (Votive Tablet), Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper; mounted on wood
Hilya (Votive Tablet)
18th century
Watch, Firm of Bautte et Moynier Swiss, Case: enameled gold; Movement: gilded brass and steel with ruby endstones, Swiss, Geneva
Watch
Watchmaker: Firm of Bautte et Moynier
Partnership of Jean-François Bautte
and Jean-Gabriel Moynier
ca. 1826–31
Calligraphic Galleon, 'Abd al-Qadir Hisari Turkish, Ink and gold on paper
Calligraphic Galleon
Calligrapher 'Abd al-Qadir Hisari
dated 1180 AH/1766–67 CE
Tughra (Insignia) of Sultan Süleiman the Magnificent (r. 1520–66), Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
Tughra (Insignia) of Sultan Süleiman the Magnificent (r. 1520–66)
ca. 1555–60

Related Content

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please contact us using the form below. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.

Send feedback

Content Notice

The Metropolitan Museum of Art presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world, and our online collection reflects ongoing work conducted over the course of our more than 150-year history. You may encounter objects or images that may be inappropriate for some viewers or information that may be outdated.