Ottoman almanac and calendrical scroll

Suleyman Hikmeti Efendi. Ruzname [Almanac for the year 1215 H / 1801 CE].

€ 8,500.00

Prettily illuminated in gold, this Ottoman calendar (ruzname) is over a meter in length, and provides information for the year 1215 Hijri (1801 CE). This work was completed by Suleyman Hikmeti Efendi, an esteemed court calligrapher and astronomer who later rose to the position of muneccimbasi (chief astrologer).

The scroll boasts numerous tables and charts, many bordered in gold gilt, and begins with a large gold tezhib headpiece. Calendrical scrolls of this type go beyond a simple account of days; they comprise not only calendar dates and holidays but prayer times, horoscopes, and more, all set into tables ruled in red and black. The margins are reserved for careful instructions to the user, and explanations of the tables.