A journey to search my soul

This is a blog of my personal collections. The purpose of this blog is to educate myself and public in regards to antiquities especially related to religion and calligraphy. I welcome everyone to input their feedback in this blog which they think would be helpful. I do not watermark the photos in this blog so everyone is free to use them as long as they are not used for illegal and unethical reasons. I appreciate if you could notify me if you plan to use any of the photos here. Enjoy browsing!!

Sunday, August 24, 2014

Ancient Manuscript Review 137 : Antique Etiopia Quran Box Set ( 18th Century CE)


 

This a wooden box which contains supposedly 30 manuscripts ( 30 juzs) for the complete Quran. The wood is thick and hard however the lid is a replacement.

 
This is a very rare acquisition because we dont see many Etiopian Quran especially with its box in the market or in international hands. 
 
Check my other Etiopian Quran manuscripts in box below :


Manuscript Specs

Item : Antique Etiopia Quran Box
Box Content : 29 manuscripts of Quran
Dim : 49 cm x 22 cm x 16 cm
Date : 18-19th century
Origin : Etiopia
Purchased Price :US

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Ancient Manuscript Review 136 : Antique Ottoman Register ( 1061 AH / 1651 CE)





This is a register book from an Ottoman era.Written neatly in Riqa and the register was binded in an oblong format ( safinah). The covers are made of hard boards and covered with marble papers. The Ottoman used marbled papers as manuscript covers starting from 17th century. Due to costly leather, marbled papers as substitute for manuscript covers were well received.
Marbling is done by transferring colours floating on the surface of a gum solution onto a paper. This method originated from Iran from 15th Century CE.
I dont have any knowledge on the content of this register as it was written in Turkish. This register is not officially dated but from the record written on the first few pages, there are some recorded dates as early as 1061 AH ( 1651 CE) till 1068 AH ( 1659 CE).




Codicology
 
Title Page :Unknown
Content    :  A register
Date         :  7 Rajab 1061 AH ( 1651 CE)
Copyist    : Anonymous
Patron      : Nil
Origin      : Istanbul, Turkey
Place acquired : Istanbul
Illuminations : Nil
Calligraphy : Riqa
Number of lines :
Inks          : Main text in black
Punctuation: Diacritical marks in black
Frame       :  Nil
History of Manuscript :
Number of folios : 12 ff
Support of writing : yellowish oriental paper
Gatherings : N/A
Catchwords :nil
Dimensions : 23.5 cm x 10.0 cm
Binding   : marble paper
Estimated Market Price :
Purchased Price : USD
Remarks :

Sunday, August 17, 2014

Ancient Artifact Review 25 : Antique Malay Modesty Disc / Pubic Cover / Caping 19th Century CE





This is a modesty disc or known as Caping or Chaping in Malaysia. It is worn to cover a boy or a girl private part especially a toddler.Its widely used in the past by children in the Northern & Eastern coast of Malaysia. Caping is made either from gold, silver or brass depending on the children family social status. The usage of caping is believed to spiritually guard the child from evil spirits and harmful forces.

This modesty disc/plate is believed originated from Hindu influence from India. Sri Vijaya & Majapahit are ancient Hindu empires controlling South East Asia from 7th  -14th Century CE.
However there is a record that this pubic cover is also widely used in other part of the world and by a female adult. In South America it is called "Tanga", made of ceramic. The cover used by the aboriginal in Australiamade of pearlshell and is called riji, jakuli or longkalongka.


The caping in my possession is made of brass and believed from 19th century CE.
Measured at 3in x 2 in


"Capings are heart-shaped plates that were used by Malays as a substitute for clothing and were worn suspended by chains mostly by infants girls and sometimes by small boys. They tended to be made from different materials according to the ranks of the wearers. Gold was reserved for the nobility, silver for dignitaries, and plates made of brass, copper or coconut shell for commoners. Babies tended to wear capings once they could stand, something that was often accompanied by a simple ceremony." 
( Ref: Kassim Haji Ali, M., Caping: Modesty Disc, Museum Association of Malaysia, 1983.)



Monday, August 11, 2014

Ancient Artifact Review 124 : Antique Ottoman Embroided Tombak dated 1168 AH ( 1754 CE)



This is a big silk cloth beautifully embroided in Arabic calligraphy.I will translate the meaning of this wording later. There was a date 1168 AH embroided as well below the wordings. Floral border decorating this tombak. Bought in Istanbul.

Dim : 50in x 30in
Date : 1168 AH ( 1754 CE)
Material : Silk
Origin : Turkey

Ancient Artifact Review 23 : Antique Ottoman Pen Case ( Divit) dated 1950 CE




This is an old Ottoman Pen case ( Divit) which measures  8" long with an inkwell at one end. It is beautifully decorated with floral motives. Made of brass and dated 1950 CE. A tugra was also seen on one end.





Compare with another bigger Ottoman Divit & a pen case from Iran Qajaf era
Giant Ottoman Divit
Qajar Qalamdan


Dim : 8in
Date : 1950 CE
Material : Brass
Origin : Turkey

Ancient Manuscript Review 134 : Antique Ottoman Prayer Manuscript ( 18th Century)









This is a small 18th Century CE Ottoman prayer manuscript consists of selective Quranic chapters, talismanic verses and some beautifully calligraphed. Borders gilded in gold. Bought from Istanbul.


Codicology


Title Page : Nil
Content    : Prayers
Date         : 18th Century CE
Copyist    : Anonymous
Patron      : Nil
Origin      : Turkey
Place acquired : Istanbul
Illuminations :
Calligraphy :Naskh & Thuluth scripts
Number of lines : varies
Inks          : Main text in black. Some key words in red.
Punctuation: Diacritical marks in black
Frame       :  Gold frame
History of Manuscript :
Number of folios : 50 ff
Support of writing : polished paper
Gatherings : N/A
Catchwords :Nil
Dimensions : 13.0 cm x 9.5 cm
Binding   :Brown leather covers
Estimated Market Price :
Purchased Price : USD
Remarks :