An illuminated calligraphic muraqqa' with two panels, Turkey, Ottoman, signed by Hafiz Osman, dated 1095 AH/1683 AD and Isma'il Zuhdi, dated 1199 AH/1784 AD

Arabic manuscript on paper, comprising two panels of calligraphy laid down on album pages, each with a large upper line of text in thuluth script in black ink, 13 lines beneath in smaller, neat naskh script in black ink, illuminated rectangular panels either side filled with interlacing split palmettes, illuminated devices amid the text, ebru doublures, red morocco binding with with gilt-stamped central medallion with interlacing flowers and saz leaves, scrolling gilt borders 

In good overall condition, ink bold, illumination bright, minor abrasions to Hafiz Osman panel with small losses to ink, minor water stains, as viewed.
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Isma'il Zuhdi is known for his single imitation pieces (of which the present example is one) of Hafiz Osman and Shaykh Hamdullah. In his panel of calligraphy in the muraqqa' to hand, he has copied precisely the same Hadith in the same style as his illustrious predecessor Hafiz Osman in the panel above, almost exactly a century later. Paired together in a later Ottoman binding, these two panels represent masterful Ottoman calligraphic specimens of the late seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

Hafiz Osman (d.1698)

After Shaykh Hamdullah and Ahmed Karahisari, 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. A panel of calligraphy by Hafiz Osman was sold in these rooms, 5 October 2011, lot 74.

Isma'il Zuhdi (d.1806)

Isma'il Zühdi was born in Ünye on the Black Sea. He moved to Istanbul and during the reign of Mustafa III was appointed as calligraphy teacher in the Imperial Palace Service (Enderun-i Hümayun), a position he held until the end of his life. He had many renowned students, including Mustafa Rakim, who was also his younger brother. He died in 1806 and was buried in the Edirnekapi cemetery in Istanbul. His tombstone is inscribed with beautiful epigraphy by Mustafa Rakim. For his biography see Derman 1989, pp.96-97.