218 - A prayer book : Enam i-Serif,

A prayer book : Enam i-Serif, signed by Muhammad Saqir, known as Berberzadeh Muhammad Sa‘id, Ottoman Turkey, dated AH1164/1750AD, Arabic manuscript on silver speckled paper, hiliye for the Prophet Muhammad, Abu Bakr, Osman and Ali, followed by qasida al-azra,shorter suras, 117ff., 2fl., 11ll. of black and red naskh script to the page within thin gold borders ruled in black and wider plain margins with thin gold rules, headings plain or in white script against gold, catchword to each right page's lower left corner, gold rosette markers, the illuminated opening bifolio's headboard consisting of dense floral decoration under a pointed arch, stylised floral sprays above, a rectangular cartouche with the manuscript title in white script within a gold lobed medallion, flanked by inward facing floral palmettes, the whole within strapwork, the binding tooled with a central mandorla containing interlocking swaying floral tendrils, each corner spandrels and the flap with cloud bands, its inside with outlines mirroring the outside decoration, 16.4 x 10.8cm., folio 16.2 x 10cm.