Book of prayers

Manuscript; Book of prayers; Arabic in black and red naskh script; 117 folios with one sarlawh (folio 1 verso); a late nineteenth-century inscription on folio 117 recto; illuminated marginal medallion; standard page: 1 column, 9 lines of text.
Binding: The manuscript is bound in leather over paper pasteboards with gilt, block- stamped medallions and cornerpieces on the exterior covers. The doublures are of leather with gold-painted designs. The envelope flap has a surface and border identical to that on the upper and lower covers.

Historical period(s)
Ottoman period, 18th century
Medium
Ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper
Dimensions
H x W (overall): 21.5 x 16 cm (8 7/16 x 6 5/16 in)
Geography
Turkey
Credit Line
Purchase — Smithsonian Unrestricted Trust Funds, Smithsonian Collections Acquisition Program, and Dr. Arthur M. Sackler
Collection
Arthur M. Sackler Collection
Accession Number
S1986.32
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Manuscript
Type

Manuscript

Keywords
Henri Vever collection, illumination, naskh script, Ottoman period (1307 - 1922), prayer, Turkey
Provenance

?-1942
Henri Vever (1854-1942), method of acquisition unknown [1]

1942-1947
Jeanne Louise Monthiers (1861-1947), bequest of Henri Vever [2]

1947-1986
Francois Mautin (1907-2003), bequest of Jeanne Louise Monthiers and Henri Vever [3]

From 1986
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery purchased from Francois Mautin [4]

Notes:

[1] An accomplished French jeweler and collector, Henri Vever (1854-1942) amassed a large and impressive collection of works of art during his lifetime. His holdings in Japanese prints and Islamic arts of the books, especially from Iran and India, were among the most important assembled in the early twentieth century. This work was in Vever's collection at the time of his death in 1942.

[2] Upon Henri Vever's death on September 25, 1942, his wife, Jeanne Louise Monthiers inherited this work. See exhibits F and G of Agreement of Purchase and Sale of the Henri Vever Collection, January 9, 1986, copy in object file.

[3] Upon the death of Jeanne Louise Monthiers, as stipulated in the will of Henri Vever, the family's assets were divided evenly between his two grandchildren. His only grandson, Francois Mautin inherited the collection known as "The Henri Vever Collection of Oriental Art and Manuscripts Including Persian and Indian Art and Manuscripts." This object is part of that collection. See exhibits F and G as cited in note 2.

[4] The Arthur M. Sackler Gallery purchased the entirety of the collection from Francois Mautin on January 9, 1986. See purchase agreement, copy in object file.

Research completed June 4, 2022

Previous Owner(s) and Custodian(s)

Henri Vever 1854-1942
Jeanne Louise Monthiers 1861-1947
Francois Mautin 1907-2003

Description

Manuscript; Book of prayers; Arabic in black and red naskh script; 117 folios with one sarlawh (folio 1 verso); a late nineteenth-century inscription on folio 117 recto; illuminated marginal medallion; standard page: 1 column, 9 lines of text.
Binding: The manuscript is bound in leather over paper pasteboards with gilt, block- stamped medallions and cornerpieces on the exterior covers. The doublures are of leather with gold-painted designs. The envelope flap has a surface and border identical to that on the upper and lower covers.

Inscription(s)

A late nineteenth-century inscription that does not pertain to the manuscript appears on folio 117 recto.

Affixed to exterior of envelope flap: white, rectangular sticker with blue border and "33" written in blue

Affixed to interior of envelope flap: white octagonal sticker with red border, "NNN" and "318" written in blue ink and crossed out with black ink

Front flyleaf: written in pencil, "no. 95"

Front flyleaf: "He rpxx"

Front flyleaf: "HV. piax(24"

Front flyleaf: written in pencil "chapitre du Coran (pour l'écriture et la reliure)"

Front flyleaf: written in pencil, "XVII ͤ S"

Front flyleaf: written in pencil and circled, "38"

Published References
  • Glenn D. Lowry, Milo Cleveland Beach, Elisabeth West FitzHugh, Susan Nemanzee, Janet Snyder. An Annotated and Illustrated Checklist of the Vever Collection. Washington and Seattle. cat. 37, p. 29.
Collection Area(s)
Arts of the Islamic World
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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