• Reference
    • GB 59 Or 14172
  • Dates of Creation
    • 1003
  • Language of Material
    • Turkish
  • Physical Description
    • 1 text 32 ff Materials: Fine laid paper. Dimensions: 249 x 148 mm. Foliation: European, 32 ff, plus one blank. Pricking and Ruling: Text frames, 9 lines, catchwords. Script: Rıka. Binding: Original deep maroon morocco binding with gilt arabesque impressed medallions and pendants and flap.

Scope and Content

This is an Ottoman calligraphic vakıf deed in the name of el-Hac Mustafa Ağa ibn-i Mehmed Beg ibn-i Abdülvedud (died 1004 AH/ 1596 CE). He is named on f 10r, at the conclusion of the preamble. Also known as Beyazi (''White'') Mustafa, he held the office of Darüssaade Ağası between 1001-4 AH/1593-96 CE, during the sultanate of Murad III (ruled 982-1003 AH/1574-95 CE). The text is composed in fine calligraphic rıka. Qur'anic verses and quotes from the hadith are written in gold in the preamble. Gilt roundels mark the ends of verses or phrases and cedveller are ruled in black and gold. An elegant illuminated headpiece is found on the unvan sayfası (f 2v). Dated early Cemaziyelevvel 1003 AH (mid-January 1595 CE).

Access Information

Not Public Record(s)

Unrestricted

Acquisition Information

Purchased at auction at Sotheby's on 17 October 1983 (lot 329)

Related Material

For more on Beyazi (''White'') Mustafa and the later changes to the office of Darüssaade Ağası, see Jane Hathaway, The Chief Eunuch of the Ottoman Harem: From African Slave to Power-Broker (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2018).