Lot 120: AN OTTOMAN ILLUMINATED HILYEI SERIF CALLIGRAPHIC PANEL BY YUSUF YASARI DATED 1309 AH

An Ottoman illuminated Hilya (Hilye-i Şerif) calligraphic panel, executed in ink, pigments, and gold leaf on paper. The composition follows the traditional Ottoman layout. The top section (başmak) contains a detailed architectural depiction of the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, showing the Kaaba at the centre surrounded by minarets and city buildings. Below this is a horizontal panel containing the Basmala in Thuluth script. The central circular medallion (göbek) contains a detailed description of the physical and moral attributes of the Prophet Muhammad written in Naskh script, with the name Muhammad written in large Thuluth script at its centre. Four circular corner cartouches (çâr yâr-ı güzîn) contain the names of the four Rightly Guided Caliphs: Abu Bakr (top right), Umar (top left), Uthman (bottom right), and Ali (bottom left). A rectangular panel (ayet) below the central section contains the Quranic verse from Surah Al-Anbiya (21:107) in Thuluth script. The lower section (etek) contains prayers (salawat) and a concluding description. The panel is decorated with polychrome floral illumination featuring roses, blue carnations, and foliate vines in a late Ottoman style. The text panels are framed by gold borders with leaf patterns. The lower-left corner of the bottom panel is signed Katabahu Yusuf Yasari (Written by Yusuf Yasari) and dated 1309 AH, corresponding to 1891-1892 AD. The panel is mounted in a glazed wooden frame with a gilded inner border.

70 by 44cm