SIGNED IKHTIYAR AL-MUNSHI, SAFAVID IRAN, 16TH CENTURY

Khawaja Ikhtiyar al-Munshi (d. AH 974⁄1566-67 AD) is the most famous calligrapher of the style known as shikasteh ta'liq, which is recognised not only by the softness of its form, but also its diagonal lean. He was active in the second half of the 16th century and signed his works 'Al-Munshi' which means secretary in Persian. This title was well-suited to our scribe as for 30 years he composed the correspondences of Sultan Muhammad Khudabanda, son of Shah Tahmasp, who was the Governor of Khorassan (A.Soheyli-Khwansari (ed.), Qazi Mir Ahmad Munshi Qomi, Golestan-e honar, Tehran 1352, p. 49 and V. Minorsky, Calligraphers and Painters, A Treatise by Qadi Ahmed son of Mir-Munshi, Washington 1959, p. 91). A single panel by the calligrapher was sold at Christie’s, South Kensington, 9 October 2015, lot 269, and another formed part of a group of calligraphic panels sold in these Rooms, 8 April 2008, lot 189.