Maxims of 'Ali

This slim, leather-bound book is dated 1167 AH (1753-54 CE) and was produced in Ottoman Turkey. It contains a series of Arabic maxims attributed to 'Ali, the Prophet Muhammad's son-in-law and fourth successor as caliph. Collections of 'Ali's maxims enjoyed considerable popularity in the Muslim world and exist in many versions; this particular collection arranges the sayings alphabetically. The maxims are written in various scripts such as thuluth and naskh and arranged horizontally lengthwise; each page has four lines of text, the upper- and lowermost being larger in scale than those in between. Bold vegetal and floral scrolls executed in liquid gold ornament the opening pages, while smaller panels of scrollwork decorate the remainder of the text.

Open

H20.5 x W14.4cm

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