A Panel of Ottoman Calligraphy, signed by Hafiz Osman, Turkey, second half 17th century

Arabic manuscript on paper, 6 lines of text written in Naskh script in black ink, verses separated by gold roundels pointed with blue and red, set within ebru borders and outer margins with later blue and gold floral illumination

After Shaykh Hamdullah and Ahmed Qarahisari, Hafiz Osman is considered the greatest Ottoman calligrapher. Born in Istanbul in 1642, he perfected his own particular style of naskh script, which would go on to influence future generations of Ottoman calligraphers. He was also a great teacher and numbered the sultans Mustafa II (r.1695-1703) and Ahmed III (r.1703-30) among his students. A Qur'an copied by Hafiz Osman and dated 1082 AH/1671 AD was sold in these rooms 20 November 1986, lot 326, and a further Qur'an attributed to Hafiz was sold in these rooms 5 October 2011, lot 74.