A CALLIGRAPHIC PANEL

SIGNED SULTAN 'ALI MASHHADI, TIMURID HERAT, DATED AH 905/1499-1500 AD

Details

A CALLIGRAPHIC PANEL
SIGNED SULTAN 'ALI MASHHADI, TIMURID HERAT, DATED AH 905/1499-1500 AD
Persian manuscript on lightly gold sprinkled paper, with 10ll. of flowing black nasta'liq written diagonally and a further 2ll. in three columns written along the right hand side, each line in clouds reserved against gold ground decorated with bright orange scrolls, with two triangles and three rectangles of gold and polychrome illumination surrounding the text, one such triangular panel framing the signature of Sultan 'Ali Mashhadi, further smaller clouds of nasta'liq framing the diagonal lines and stating that the panel was copied bi dar al-sultaneh Herat in 905, laid down between gold rules on wide cream gold-speckled borders, some staining
Calligraphy 7 7/8 x 3 7/8in. (20 x 9.5cm.); folio 13½ x 9in. (34.2 x 22.6cm.)

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Lot Essay

Born around 1437-38, Sultan 'Ali Mashhadi was considered the first among equals by calligraphers of the period. In his famous treatise, Qadi Ahmad describes his writings as the sun among other planets. He was active at the court of Sultan Husayn Mirza Bayqara in Herat. Following the invasion of Herat by the Uzbeks, he returned to his hometown Mashhad where he died on 10 Rabi' I AH 926/2 March 150 AD (V. Minorsky, Calligraphers and Painters, A Treatise by Qadi Ahmad, son of Mir Munshi, Washington, 1959, pp. 101-103). His numerous recorded works include inscriptions in Herat and are dated between AH 849 (1444-45 AD) and AH 923 (1517-18 AD). The latter, his last recorded work, was sold in these Rooms, 7 October 2008, lot 331.

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