Lot 353: A RED-GROUND ISLAMIC CALLIGRAPHIC SILK TEXTILE, 20TH CENTURY

A rectangular woven silk lampas panel featuring a deep red ground with cream calligraphy and geometric borders. The design consists of continuous horizontal zigzag or chevron bands typical of imperial Ottoman production. The wide calligraphic bands are woven in a Thuluth script and include the Shahada, reading ‘La ilaha illa Allah Muhammad Rasul Allah’ (There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah). Narrower bands between the chevrons contain the Tasbih prayer, ‘Subhan Allah wa al-hamdu lillah wa la ilaha illa Allah wa Allahu akbar’ (Glory be to Allah, and praise be to Allah, and there is no god but Allah, and Allah is greatest). Further inscriptions include the divine epithets ‘Ya Hannan Ya Mannan’ (O Compassionate, O All-Giving) and ‘Ya Subhan’ (O Glorious One). The reverse of the textile displays the inverse colour scheme with red script on a cream ground.

132 by 83cm