Ottoman Makta, Reed Pen Cutting Block in Turban Form

A nineteenth-century Ottoman makta, the small block on which a calligrapher rests a reed pen while trimming and sharpening its nib. The cut must be made at exactly the right angle: everything fluid and expressive in Islamic calligraphy begins with it, which is why the makta is among the most carefully made objects on a scribe's desk.

The carving follows a form reminiscent of Sufi mystic dress, resembling a turban or "hat" finial, an aesthetic choice that also carries the spiritual and cultural associations of the object's world. At one end is a brass concave resting pillow, shaped to steady the reed during cutting. The piece measures approximately 14 cm (5½ inches) in length.

Tools of this kind are traditionally associated with the craftsmanship of the Mevlevi dervishes and the mevlevihanes in which they worked.