"In Islamic culture, calligraphy has long been considered a quintessential art form. The Qur'an states, "The first thing God created was the pen," and this beautiful writing practice constitutes an expression of piety. Calligraphy not only conveys the ideas of a person but also represents a hallmark of high culture." "Traces of the Calligrapher reconstructs the intimate world of the calligrapher during the early modern period of Islamic culture, bringing together the "tools of the trade" - works in their own right that are rarely exhibited or published - and the exquisite art made with these functional objects in India, Iran, and Turkey." "Drawn primarily from a prestigious private collection in Houston, the works in this fascinating book include pens, pen boxes, chests, tables, paper scissors, knives, burnishers, and book bindings of superb manufacture and design. These objects are presented with examples of calligraphy that were executed as practice exercises, occasional works, wall hangings, and manuscripts. Seen together, these rare works reveal the traces of their makers."--BOOK JACKET.