Details
Bazil (d.AH 1123/1712-3 AD): Hamla-i-Haydari
Kashmir or North India, late 18th century
Indian epic account of the fabulous life of the prophet Muhammad and the first caliphs, Persian manuscript on ivory paper, 439ff. as numbered plus four flyleaves, each with 15ll. of black nasta'liq written in three columns, gold margin between black rules, similar intercolumnar divisions and two outer margins, the inner with red outer rule, space around the text filled with diagonal black nasta'liq, portions of text in red, (minor smudging, slight staining, minor tears and repairs to folio edges, final folio early replacement), opening bifolio finely illuminated with the textual interstices filled with gold, and gold meandering flowering vine in the margin, the reverse painted with silver margin, (slight wear to edges, repaired), with approx. thirty contemporary miniatures by different artists throughout the text painted in gold, silver and polychrome depicting episodes from the lives described, including 'Ali carrying, Dhu'l-Fiqar, his twin-bladed sword, (generally good condition, some corrosion of green), red morocco binding with gold stamped arabesque medallion, pendants and spandrels (slight scuffing, spine repaired)
folio 11½ x 7½in. (29.3 x 19cm.)
main text 6½ x 4in. (16.4 x 10.2cm.)
