Page 109 - NOVOPAZARSKI ZBORNIK 43

Novopazarski zbornik, 43/2020, str. 87-109 109

Redžep Škrijelj
State University of Novi Pazar
Novi Pazar

THE ISLAMIC EPIGRAPHIC ART OF PESTER

„What are words so you say something with them? Words are small rivets in the roses’ hedge.
I left words, sound and speech, all three I threw to speak with You, with no all three ones.’
(Rumi, Mesnevija I, Sarajevo, 1985: 97)

Abstract:The paper discusses of the art phenomenon of the Islamic material
culture-epigraphic with ten very negligent graves (gravestones) of Pester. The origin
of this very significant monument material from the time of the Ottoman Empire,
built with the skills and techniques of stonemasonry-calligraphy craftsmanship,
took place a lot longer and more difficult from its more frequent decay leading it to
its disappearance. The choice, transcription and translation of 25 “stone sleepers”
of Pester is a try to tear off from its oblivion significant testimonies of the past time
and moments of XVIII and XIX centuries.
The written messages of the previous masters of calligraphy and stone
epigraphic emphasise onto history of Pester. Every gravestone speaks on the distant
past, tells on the time of the village establishment, origin of people, life quality
and the material base of their purchasers. Besides several older gravestones of
white marble, imported from distant quarries (Skoplje, Prilep), the study includes
gravestones of stone from the local quarries.”What is left from the remains, it is
called tradition”-and it testifies with its message on twenty very significant very
white gravestones and they shall represent seldom artefacts of Pester culture until
their final decay. The offered samples refer to the time from the beginning of XVIII
until the first decades of XX century.

Key words: Pester, Islamic epigraphic, gravestones, calligraphy, art.