Lot Essay
This lot is from the Freer small Shahnameh, so called because most of the leaves from this now-dispersed manuscript are in the Freer Gallery, Washington, D.C.. Many other leaves are in public and private collections, particularly in America. Two in the Binney collection, King Ardawan hunting and Kai Kubad enthroned, are particularly close to this lot and to lot 150 in terms of size and composition. (Islamic Art from the collection of Edwin Binney III, Washington D.C., 1966)
The origin of this manuscript (and the related other small Shahnamehs) is still unclear; while Marianna Shreve Simpson suggests that it was produced in Baghdad in 1300 (Simpson, M.S.: The Illustration of an Epic -- The Earliest Shahnameh Manuscripts, New York, 1979, pp.320-323), and B.W.Robinson supports a Sultanate Indian origin, the majority believe an Iranian origin to be more likely.
See also lot 150.
The origin of this manuscript (and the related other small Shahnamehs) is still unclear; while Marianna Shreve Simpson suggests that it was produced in Baghdad in 1300 (Simpson, M.S.: The Illustration of an Epic -- The Earliest Shahnameh Manuscripts, New York, 1979, pp.320-323), and B.W.Robinson supports a Sultanate Indian origin, the majority believe an Iranian origin to be more likely.
See also lot 150.