Abu'l-Qasim Ferdowsi (d. AH 416/1025 AD): Shahnameh

Details

Abu'l-Qasim Ferdowsi (d. AH 416/1025 AD): Shahnameh
and 'Ala b. Ya'qub (d. AH 491/1097 AD): Barzunameh
Herat, circa 1600

Persian manuscript on cream paper, 554ff. as numbered plus two flyleaves, each with 21ll. of fine black nasta'liq in four columns, gold intercolumnar divisions between black rules, similar margin with blue outer rule, ruled outer margin, portions of text written diagonally in ruled panels, headings in red, (negligible smudging and staining, occasional small repairs and folios remargined), opening 15ff. Qajar replacements with Qajar gold and polychrome illuminated bifolio at start and a similar heading on ff.9v and 530r, (other replacements throughout text), 31 contemporary miniatures throughout the text and eight Qajar examples in Safavid style (some creasing, flaking and rubbing, occasional smudging), f.529r. with later colophon, f.529v. with heading at start of Barzunameh, later black morocco binding painted with gold palmette vine medallion and borders (small repairs, splitting at spine), red morocco doublures
folio 14 x 8¾in. (35.7 x 22.4cm.); text 8½ x 4¾in. (21.7 x 12cm.)

Lot Essay

The miniatures are on the following folios:
Herat circa 1600: 79r., 92r., 96v., 107v., 121v., 126v., 134v., 137v., 149r., 156r., 174r., 181v., 188r., 192r., 226v., 235v., 247v., 252r., 267r., 270v., 320v., 326r., 343v., 365v,. 382v., 398v., 400r., 408v., 488v., 503v., and 516r.
Later, probably Qajar, replacements:14v., 20r., 214v., 283r., 287r., 482r., and 552r.

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