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Collection of the Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami
Islamic Manuscript
Collection of the Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami
Collection of the Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami
© Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami. All rights reserved.

Islamic Manuscript

Artist/Maker (Nigeria)
Date19th to 20th century
Mediumink and colors on paper, leather and dye
DimensionsOverall (Closed): 7 1/4 x 5 1/8 x 1 7/8 in. (18.4 x 13 x 4.8 cm)
ClassificationsInformation Forms
Credit LineGift of The May Department Stores Company
Terms
    Object number68.002.004.1
    DescriptionThe Hausa of northern Nigeria are Muslim traders and townspeople. This manuscript is a book of recipes, a collection of single pages of script incorporating various geometric designs. Carried in a leather case and used during a consultation between a cleric and a client, it was a source for a secret hatumere, or design, which would be made into an amulet for use by the client. The calligraphy used here appears to be the script associated with the town of Bornu. Throughout the manuscript are marginalia enhanced with green and yellow ink. Islamic art avoids images and places importance on God’s utterances. Scribes make these words visible and use as their primary aesthetic embellishment the geometry of God’s creation.
    On View
    On view
    Collections
    Collection of the Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami
    Hausa people
    19th to 20th century
    Collection of the Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami
    Artist Unknown
    17th century
    Collection of the Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami
    Artist Unknown
    17th century
    Collection of the Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami
    Edouard Félicien Alexis Pépin
    not dated
    Collection of the Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami
    Central Highlands/Atlantic Watershed
    ca. 1000-1550
    Collection of the Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami
    Artist Unknown
    ca. 200-250
    Collection of the Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami
    Artist Unknown
    early 19th century
    Collection of the Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami
    Artist Unknown
    late 18th to early 19th century
    Collection of the Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami
    Maya (archaeological culture)
    ca. 600-900