Lot 358: AN OTTOMAN TALISMANIC SHIRT (JAMA) PAINTED WITH RELIGIOUS INSCRIPTIONS, TURKEY, 19TH CENTURY

AN OTTOMAN TALISMANIC SHIRT (JAMA) PAINTED WITH RELIGIOUS INSCRIPTIONS, TURKEY, 19TH CENTURY

The garment is elaborately decorated with protective calligraphy, magic squares, and floral illumination. The front panels feature two large circular medallions containing Surah al-Ikhlas written in red Thuluth script. These are flanked by smaller blue medallions containing the names of the Ahl al-Bayt, including Ali, Fatima, Hasan, and Husayn, written in Naskh script. The back panel is dominated by a large central lozenge containing the ninety-nine names of Allah, or Asma al-Husna, rendered in fine Naskh script. The lower border displays the Shahada, There is no god but Allah, in repeated black square Kufic blocks. Numerous magic squares, or wafq, containing Abjad numerals and stylised characters are distributed across the chest, back, and sleeves. The borders and vertical bands are further inscribed with various Quranic verses, including the Ayat al-Kursi and Surah al-Fath.

122 by 98cm