ISLAMIC, INDIAN ART & JEWELS
Lot 2:
Description
A beautifully executed manuscript of the celebrated poem “Al-Burdah” (The Mantle Ode), written by Sheikh Muhammad Abdul Aziz al-Rifai and dated 1325 AH (1907 AD). This exquisite work features fine Arabic calligraphy in elegant gold ink on deep blue paper, framed within delicate red and gold borders.
The manuscript opens with a finely illuminated headpiece in gilt and blue, intricately decorated with arabesque scrollwork and floral motifs, marking the beginning of the revered text. The following pages are filled with verses from Imam al-Busiri’s Qasidat al-Burdah, one of the most famous poems in praise of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The text is written in a confident and harmonious naskh or thuluth hand, each line perfectly spaced and balanced, reflecting the mastery of its scribe.
The outer binding is composed of dark leather covers decorated with a central gilt medallion and cornerpieces, bordered with fine gold tooling—typical of high-quality Ottoman and late Islamic manuscripts.
Beautifully illuminated folios, rich in color contrast between the lapis-blue ground and the golden calligraphy, highlighting the reverence with which this devotional text was produced.
23 x 17cm
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