A Large Illuminated Ottoman Qur'an, copied and illuminated by Muhammad Ibn Mustafa, Turkey, dated 1149 AH/1735 AD

Arabic manuscript on paper, 361 leaves plus 2 flyleaves, 11 lines to the page, written in neat Naskh script in black ink, verses separated by small gold roundels pointed in red and orange, surah headings in white Thuluth script against a gold ground surrounded by polychrome floral motifs in varying designs, margins ruled in black and gold, colophon with corresponding illuminated cornerpieces, catchwords, tenth verses marked with the Arabic word 'Ashr' written in gold in the margin, opening double-page illuminated frontispiece composed of an interlace of scrolling polychrome flowers with text in cloud bands against a gold ground, morocco binding with arabesque-stencilled cornerpieces and central cartouche in gold

In good overall condition, some leaves loose from binding midway through, binding spine repaired, some small smudges and stains throughout but illumination bright and calligraphy bold, as viewed.
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Born in Bursa, Muhammad Ibn Mustafa was considered so knowledgable that he was known as Hezarfen: bin marifetli, 'the man of a thousand talents'. Proficient in all the scripts, he was not only a master calligrapher, but also an illuminator (as testified in the colophon of the present manuscript) and conservator.

Having initially learned calligraphy from this father, also a calligrapher, Muhammad Ibn Mustafa studied thuluth and naskh under Kurdzade Ibrahim Effendi, a pupil of Hafiz Osman (d.1698). Later Ibn Mustafa went to Istanbul where he honed his skills working with Hafiz Osman himself, and became a calligraphy tutor in the Topkapi Palace.

Among his works are inscriptions in jali thuluth at the Valide Mosque in Uskudar and its mausoleum and next-door fountain, including the Ayat al-Kursi; inscriptions on the doors of the Royal Stables, and inscriptions on a fountain in ta'liq script on the fountain by Bab-i Humayun, Istanbul. For more information on Muhammad Ibn Mustafa see O.F. Dere, Hattat Hafiz Osman Efendi, Istanbul, 2009, p.34-35.