- 97
An Ottoman Drawing of a Peri, attributable to Veli Can, Turkey, 16th century
Estimate
25,000 - 35,000 GBP
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Description
- watercolour on paper
Gouache heightened with gold on paper, depicting a seated peri before a bowl of fruit, with large feathery wings and leafy hat, inscribed 'perizad' above, bordered in gold, outer margins filled with large leafy outlines in gold, reverse with a text box with 8 lines of flowing nasta'liq script in black ink, sprinkled with gold
Condition
In generally good overall condition, some creasing and paper repairs, nibbles to leaf edges, illumination bright, as viewed.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
Catalogue Note
inscriptions
perizad: 'born of the fairies'
The peri represents the "idyllic tranquility of the enchanted forest" (Atil 1987, p.102), and can be seen in this instance in her familiar garb of loose-fitting robes with a leafy hat and wings, comparable to saz leaves. Attributable to Veli Can, the second master of the so-called saz style following the famous Shah Quli, the present drawing displays the taste for nim qalam drawings at the Ottoman court during the second half of the sixteenth century.
A number of Ottoman drawings of peris exist as part of albums, including one in the Topkapi Saray Museum, two pages of which are published in ibid, pp.102-103, nos.48a & b. Other examples can be found in the Musée Jaquemart-André, Paris (inv.D.261, fl. 11r) and the Freer Gallery of Art, Washington DC (see Petsopoulos1982, pp.196-7, nos.189-190 and Paris 2005, p.89, fig.36), whilst a seated peri was in the collection of Edwin Binney III (published in E. Binney III, Turkish Treasures from the Collection of Edwin Binney III, Portland, 1979, pp.76-77, no.47). A further drawing of a peri was sold in these rooms 24 April 2012, lot 263.
perizad: 'born of the fairies'
The peri represents the "idyllic tranquility of the enchanted forest" (Atil 1987, p.102), and can be seen in this instance in her familiar garb of loose-fitting robes with a leafy hat and wings, comparable to saz leaves. Attributable to Veli Can, the second master of the so-called saz style following the famous Shah Quli, the present drawing displays the taste for nim qalam drawings at the Ottoman court during the second half of the sixteenth century.
A number of Ottoman drawings of peris exist as part of albums, including one in the Topkapi Saray Museum, two pages of which are published in ibid, pp.102-103, nos.48a & b. Other examples can be found in the Musée Jaquemart-André, Paris (inv.D.261, fl. 11r) and the Freer Gallery of Art, Washington DC (see Petsopoulos1982, pp.196-7, nos.189-190 and Paris 2005, p.89, fig.36), whilst a seated peri was in the collection of Edwin Binney III (published in E. Binney III, Turkish Treasures from the Collection of Edwin Binney III, Portland, 1979, pp.76-77, no.47). A further drawing of a peri was sold in these rooms 24 April 2012, lot 263.