David W. Sorenson
(Alan Berman, Numismatics)
“Turkish Imitations of Italian Paper in the Later Fifteenth Century”
Abstract of Paper
57th International Congress on Medieval Studies
(Online, 2022)
Session on
“Medieval Writing Materials:
Processes, Products, and Case-Studies”
Sponsored by the Research Group on Manuscript Evidence
Organized by Mildred Budny
2022 International Congress on Medieval Studies; Program
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Description
Late fifteenth-century Ottoman manuscripts use a variety of paper types. One variety, described here, superficially resembles imported Italian paper, being white and reasonably fine, as opposed to earlier paper, which tended to be thick, crude, and very off-white. The mouldlines are distinctive and clearly Eastern.
Abstract
After 1453 the Ottoman Empire gained a more intense westward outlook, if for no other reason than that of conquest, but also for purposes of trade. One aspect of this was increased attempts of Turkish papermakers to compete with importers of Italian, mainly Fabriano, paper, which in this period was improving in quality while falling in price. Paper in Asia Minor, as characterized by the mould lines visible in surviving examples, fell into four categories.
First, the traditional paper which predated the Ottomans, was thick, yellowish-brown, and had chain-lines in groups, usually of threes; it was thick enough so that the lines were often difficult to see. Second, the Ottoman variety of this, which was similar, albeit less thick and crude; the wire-lines are easily visible. Third, imported European paper, with the usual wire-lines and watermarks. Fourth, which concerns this paper, a variety which is white, of fine quality, and with single, closely-spaced, chain lines, clearly eastern in origin, but superficially resembling imported Italian paper.
At present there is very little information available regarding this latter product. Occasionally an author mentions it in passing, but it is rarely recognized as a paper type, let alone studied. In this paper I will attempt to define it, using a variety of examples, to develop a rough idea of its characteristics, and possibly some ideas regarding its date range and areas of use.
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Specimen 1: Turkish Paper Imitating Italian Paper
Detail of the Paper and Chainlines
Specimen 2: Ottoman variety of traditional paper, in a Juz’ section of the Quran
Detail of the Paper, Chainlines, and Wiremarks
Specimen 3: Typical Watermarked Italian Paper
Detail of Paper
Watermark: Outstretched Hand with Cuff and Extended Fingers
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See also:
- David W. Sorenson, Guide to “Photographing Watermarks for Beginners” (2021)
- David W. Sorenson, Paper-Moulds and Paper Traditions: Draft for Comment (2020)
- David W. Sorenson, “India” Paper for the 2020 Spring Symposium: Draft for Feedback (2020)
This paper is David’s draft for the presentation intended for our 2020 Spring Symposium, which had to be cancelled. An illustrated Abstract of the paper is included in the published Program Booklet.
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