Lot Essay
The Khamseh contains the following works, and probably part of a fifth: Raudat al-Anwar, Gul-o-Nau Ruz, Humay wa Humayun and Kamal Nameh.
Details
Kamal al-Din Abu'l-'Ata Mahmud b. 'Ali known as Khuwaja Kirmani (d. AH 750/1349-50 AD): Khamseh
Safavid Persia, 17th century
a collection of love stories of mystical significance, Persian manuscript on paper, 342ff. plus two flyleaves, each with 15ll. of flowing black nasta'liq in two columns with an outer column of 10ll. written diagonally with illuminated triangles above and below, gold and green intercolumnar divisions between black rules, green, gold, orange and blue margins between black rules, blue outer rule, headings in white on gold panels with floral sprays, (remargined, splits and repairs mainly to margins and divisions, water-staining, misbound, a few folios possibly missing), gold and polychrome illuminated opening bifolio, the right-hand page with the figure of a woman in green and orange robes with blue coat holding a bottle, the left-hand page with a cartouche containining the title in gold nasta'liq, (some creasing and rubbing, slightly trimmed), three illuminated headings in text marking the start of each section, colophon on final folio signed by Sultan 'Ali, later black morocco binding with red and green stamped floral medallion, pendants and spandrels (light wear to spine)
folio 12¼ x 7¾in. (31.2 x 19.7cm.)
text 8 x 5½in. (20.3 x 14cm.)
Safavid Persia, 17th century
a collection of love stories of mystical significance, Persian manuscript on paper, 342ff. plus two flyleaves, each with 15ll. of flowing black nasta'liq in two columns with an outer column of 10ll. written diagonally with illuminated triangles above and below, gold and green intercolumnar divisions between black rules, green, gold, orange and blue margins between black rules, blue outer rule, headings in white on gold panels with floral sprays, (remargined, splits and repairs mainly to margins and divisions, water-staining, misbound, a few folios possibly missing), gold and polychrome illuminated opening bifolio, the right-hand page with the figure of a woman in green and orange robes with blue coat holding a bottle, the left-hand page with a cartouche containining the title in gold nasta'liq, (some creasing and rubbing, slightly trimmed), three illuminated headings in text marking the start of each section, colophon on final folio signed by Sultan 'Ali, later black morocco binding with red and green stamped floral medallion, pendants and spandrels (light wear to spine)
folio 12¼ x 7¾in. (31.2 x 19.7cm.)
text 8 x 5½in. (20.3 x 14cm.)