Koranic Tablet From Timbuktu

One of two exceptional koranic tablets purchased from the collection of Merton D. Simpson. Merton Simpson was the preeminent dealer of African art in the United States from the 1960s through the 1990s until age and ailing health dimmed his vision. In the early 90s I became his preferred base-maker and for a long time we shared a wonderful relationship wherein Mertpassed me stellar objects to mount along with loosely sketched images of how he wanted the piece to be transformed through mounting. Mert was among the first dealers to recognize the beauty and value of lovingly created and preserved non-figurative personal objects from the continent. The oportunity to work in essence as a sculptor in presenting such objects as works of art was as much an honor as it was thrilling: in my two years traveling in Africa I had encountered very few figurative works of art in the bush while lovely spoons, stools, carved cups and bowls came to my attention almost daily. To see the finest examples of this genre celebrated as art was and remains deeply satisfying. This is simply a gorgeous koranic tablet, used by students to practice Arabic calligraphy and washed and reused hundreds of times over to a remarkable smoothness 25″ tall by 8.5″ wide. Unmounted.

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