AN ALBUM PAGE: KABIR, THE MYSTICAL WEAVER

AMBER, NORTH INDIA, SECOND HALF 18TH CENTURY; THE CALLIGRAPHY SIGNED QA'IM KHAN BIN ZAFAR BAHADUR, DATED AH 1123 (33?)/1711-12 (20-21?) AD

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AN ALBUM PAGE: KABIR, THE MYSTICAL WEAVER
AMBER, NORTH INDIA, SECOND HALF 18TH CENTURY; THE CALLIGRAPHY SIGNED QA'IM KHAN BIN ZAFAR BAHADUR, DATED AH 1123 (33?)/1711-12 (20-21?) AD
Opaque pigments and gold on paper, the mystic seated before his weaving loom, wearing a colourful hat, bare-chest, visited by a novice, cranes flying in the background, between blue borders with red arabesques; the reverse with a nasta'liq quatrain in black ink, each line in clouds on gold illuminated ground, signed and dated in the lower left corner
Painting 7½ x 4¼in. (19 x 10.5cm.)

Lot Essay

Kabir was a humble weaver and hardy realist of the late 15th century who embraced pantheism. With his wise, spiritual admonitions that he imparted to people regardless of religion or station, he became admired and respected by all. This miniature follows a traditional composition of the subject, and is similar to a Mughal version in The St. Petersburg Muraqqa', which is dated late 17th/early 18th century (The St. Petersburg Muraqqa', Milan, 1996, pl.40 / folio 68 recto).

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