KAMAL AL-DIN ISMA'IL ISFAHANI (D. 1240 AD): DIWAN

SAFAVID PERSIA, LATE 16TH CENTURY

Details

KAMAL AL-DIN ISMA'IL ISFAHANI (D. 1240 AD): DIWAN
SAFAVID PERSIA, LATE 16TH CENTURY
Poetry, Persian manuscript on cream paper, 298ff. plus 3 fly-leaves, each folio with 18ll. of black nasta'liq script arranged in two columns with a further outer column of 14-16ll. of nasta'liq script written diagonally, double gold, orange and green intercolumnar rules, catchwords, headings in white on panels of gold and polychrome floral illumination, cornerpieces with similar decoration, margins with gold and polychrome rules, two gold and polychrome illuminated headpieces, some pages remargined, later owners' stamps and inscriptions including that of Mir Ni'matullah, in Qajar shagreen with central stamped medallions in red and gilt, doublures of brown morocco with central medallions with découpé paper floral sprays
Text panel 7 1/8 x 3 7/8in. (18 x 10cm.); folio 10 x 5¾in. (25.3 x 14.5cm.)

Provenance

The Property of a European Private Collector, Sotheby's London, 15 October 2003, lot 18

Lot Essay

Kamal al-Din Isma'il Isfahani was a panegyrist of the noble Sa'id family and was given the surname Khallaq al-Ma'ani. The present example of his work is a 16th century copy with no documentation other than it was in various private libraries whose owners left their seal impressions. One note clearly says: 'It entered the library of Muhammad Husayn Khan in Dhu'l Qa'da, 1181 (March-April 1768 AD)'.

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