AN ILLUMINATED OTTOMAN PRAYER BOOK SIGNED BY ABDULLAH, TURKEY, 18TH CENTURY

A collection of prayers and Quran verses, Arabic manuscript on paper, 85 leaves plus 2 flyleaves, 11 lines to the page, written in naskh script in black ink, separated by gold and polychrome verse floral roundels, margins ruled in black, light green and gold borders, opening illuminated floral headpiece in polychrome and gold decoration framing 8 lines in clouds reserved against a sprinkled gold ground and the margins decorated with gilt large leafy border. Surah and prayer headings in white thuluth script on gold rectangular panels, the ninety-nine names of Allah with punched cintamani motifs, the last two folio with a prayer for completion of the recitation (Due- al-Khatm)in elegant black script reserved in clouds a gilt ground and signed by Abdullah, the margin decorated with gilt floral motifs. In brown morocco binding with floral trellis pattern with flap. Text panel : 7 by 13 cm. Folio: 12 by 19 cm.