242 - A calligraphic panel possibly signed Muhammad as-ad Al-Yasari (Yesari Mehmed es-ad Efendi)

A calligraphic panel possibly signed Muhammad as-ad Al-Yasari (Yesari Mehmed es-ad Efendi) Ottoman Turkey, late 18th century Black ink on paper mounted on card, with a single line of nasta'liq within a could bands, signed below, signature rubbed, on a gold ground with floriated scrolling vine, the corners with trefoils on blue, 20.3 x 8.9cm. Provenance: Private UK Collection Muhammad As'ad al-Yasari (Yesari Mehmed Es'ad Efendi d. AH 1213/1798 AD) was born in Istanbul, the son of Kara Mahmud Aga. The name Yasari derives from the fact that he was left handed. In fact he was also paralyzed on the right side and afflicted with tremors on the left, making his talent for calligraphy, and in particular thetal'iqscript even more notable. He first studied with a master ofta'liq, Shaykh al-Islam Wali al-Din Efendi (Veliüddin Efendi) and then with Dedezadeh Muhammad Sa'id Efendi from whom he received his calligrapher's diploma (ijaza) in 1754. Yasari As'ad was appointed calligraphy instructor at the Imperial Palace by Sultan Mustafa III (r. 1789-1807) and Sultan Selim III (r. 1789-1807) admired his architectural compositions. He wrote the inscription of a panel in the mihrab of the Hagia Sophia and others for the Tomb of Sultan Mehmet II, the Barracks of the Black Eunuchs at Topkapi, the Beylerbeyi Mosque and the Aynali Kavak Sarayi which are amongst the finest examples of Ottoman calligraphy. His other recorded works are calligraphic pages, one dated AH 1193/1779-80 AD which he copied from Mir 'Imad (Mehdi Bayani, Ahval va Asar-e Khosh-Nevisan, Vol. III, Tehran, 1348 sh., p. 633). He was particularly renowned for calligraphic panels intended for albums such as a quatrain which sold at Christie's South Kensington, 23 April 2012, lot 89 (Sheila Blair,Islamic Calligraphy, London, 2006, p.516. Amuraqqa'album by Yasari is in the Sakip Sabanci Collection (M. Ugur Derman,Letters in Gold, New York, 1998, no. 28, pp. 100-01). Anothermuraqqa'album sold in Christie's, King Street rooms, 6 October 2009, lot 86. Yasari's son, Mustafa 'Izzet Yasari zadeh is known to have fully codified the rules ofjali ta'liq. He was trained by his father from whom he received hisijazain 1788. It is recorded that they went on pilgrimage to Mecca together in 1792. He held various official charges, including that of Head of the Government Printing Press. He is thought to have brought Turkishta'liqto unequalled heights after 1834. A Qit'a signed by him and dated AH 1262 sold at Christie's South Kensington, 23 April 2012, lot 92.