Thread by @BaytAlFann

The art of calligraphy on a dried leaf was practised widely in Ottoman Turkey. This was difficult & delicate work. The leaf was dried, & the tissue removed to leave the skeletal membrane, with gold ink applied over it.

Here are 22 exquisite examples, past & present

A thread…

1/ Calligraphy Leaf
Ottoman, Turkey
19th century

Golden calligraphy on a tree leaf. Many feature verses written from the Qu’ran, Hadith prayers and poetry.

@ChristiesInc

2/ Calligraphy Leaf

A rare calligraphic composition in gold on a large natural leaf incorporating the hilyeh, the physical attributes of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) signed by Muhammad Helmi, a pupil of Mustafa Izzet Effendi.

3/ Calligraphy Leaf
Ottoman Turkey
19th century

Chestnut leaf inscribed with a Qur’anic verse from Surat al-Isra’ (“The Night Journey,” Q17:80), which reads: “And say, ‘Lord grant me a good entrance and a goodly exit, and sustain me with Your power.”

@AgaKhanMuseum

4/ Calligraphy Leaf
Ottoman Turkey
19th century

Text of the Bismallah (‘In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful’) is made to fit inside the natural shape of the leaf. The vertical strokes of the letters follow the line of the stem of the leaf

@KhaliliOnline

5/ Calligraphy Leaf

Arabic composition gold calligraphy applied onto a natural tree leaf in gold.

6/ Calligraphy Leaf
Turkey, dated AH 1321/AD 1903 or later

Arabic composition applied on to a natural leaf in gold, the text in the form of a lion incorporating verses praising the Imam 'Ali by al-Sherif al-Murtaza

@bonhams1793

7/ Calligraphy Leaf
Ottoman Turkey
20th century

To apply the calligraphy the stencil of the composition is placed behind the leaf and the gold ink with gum Arabic is applied.

@MIAQatar

8/ Calligraphy Leaf

In the form of a stork, the text comprising a Sufi verse, signed Abd al-Ghani and with date AH 1311/AD 1893

9/ Calligraphy Leaf
Turkey, 20th Century

Arabic composition in gold on a natural leaf, the text comprising the Shahadah in intertwining thuluth script

@bonhams1793

10/ Calligraphy Leaf

Arabic composition applied onto a natural leaf in gold, the text incorporating the Bismallah and invocations to God and the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) within a stylised Sufi cap

11/ Calligraphy Leaf

The Bismallah in gold thuluth in a circular form

12/ Calligraphy Leaf

Arabic composition applied onto a natural leaf in gold, the text incorporating the words Allah, Angels, the Prophets, the Day of Judgment in the form of a sailing boat with seven oars, one for each of the Seven Sleepers

13/ Calligraphy Leaf

The gilt and pierced leaf with applied calligraphic Quranic composition in thuluth script.

14/ Calligraphy Leaf

Arabic composition applied onto a natural leaf in gold.

15/ Calligraphy Leaf
Turkey, 20th century

An Arabic calligraphic composition applied onto a natural leaf in the shape of a pear incorporating the Bismallah written in thuluth script

Asian Civilisations Museum, Singapore

16/ Calligraphy Leaf

Arabic composition applied onto a natural leaf in gold. During this period, Ottoman calligraphers were interested in producing compositions which took various shapes.

17/ Calligraphy Leaf

The gilt and pierced leaf with applied calligraphic Quranic composition in thuluth script

18/ Calligraphy Leaf

Arabic composition applied in the shape of a vase onto a natural leaf, the text from the Qur'an, surat al-Ahzab, chapter XXXIII, verse 23

19/ Calligraphy Leaf

Arabic composition applied onto a natural leaf in gold.

20/ Calligraphy Leaf

The gilt and pierced leaf with applied calligraphic Qur'anic composition in thuluth script

21/ Calligraphy Leaf
Ottoman Turkey
19th century

@ChristiesInc

22/ Singapore’s Asian Civilisations Museum is home to an extensive collection of these alluring calligraphic compositions on leaves. According to the museum, this elevated art form rose to prominence particularly in Ottoman Turkey during the 19th century.

roots.gov.sg/Collection-Lan…

If you like this thread, check out our forthcoming Islamic Art & Culture Digital Festival, happening online - 28 & 29 November.

At the festival, hear from leading Arabic calligraphy artists, who will share their creative practice & expertise

Book tickets eventbrite.com/e/the-future-o…