abu dervish: August 2014

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 :

Antique Etiopia Quran Box Set

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.)