Publication Date
Approx 1850
Publication Place
-
Al-Khalili Family Trust - Nasser D. Collection. Al-Khalili Islamic Art
Type
Other
Language
Undetermined
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Physical Dimensions
الطول : 22.6 سم (مبراة القلم) ، 16.5 سم ( مسند القلم ) ، 27.7 سم (مقص)
Library
Museum With No Frontiers
Library Asset ID
SCI 264
Record ID
object;EPM;uk;Mus21;47;ar
Library Location
Al-Khalili Family Trust - Nasser D. Collection. Al-Khalili Islamic Art
Date
Approx 1850
Notes
Desk set includes paper scissors, pen holder and pen sharpening knife/knife. The handles of the scissors are gold with enamelled bands and floral coils richly covered with diamonds. The ribbed steel blades, plated with Damascus gold, are hollow-sharpened. The top of the pen holder is decorated with a turban of a dervish on a stand, illustrating the links between the Ottoman calligraphers and the Sufi brotherhood. The knife blade is stamped with the name of the maker, Reza. Reed pens used by calligraphers had to be constantly sharpened. This was done by placing the pen on the pen holder and sharpening the end using a pen sharpening knife. The scissors must have been used to cut the paper or strips of paper used in decorative borders for planning work. Many Ottoman sultans practiced the art of planning and tests such as these were required to be used in court for display.
Sample Text
“A Collection of Calligraphers’ Tools” within Discover Islamic Art Collections. Museum Without Borders, 2026. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;EPM;uk;Mus21;47;ar