SAFAVID IRAN, AH 964/1557-8 AD

Details

LEAF FROM A MANUSCRIPT OF JAMI'S YUSUF WA ZULAYKHA
SAFAVID IRAN, AH 964/1557-8 AD
Persian manuscript on paper, 14ll. of flowing black nasta'liq within two gold-outlined columns, marigined with light blue paper with superb gold illumination of a family of snow leopards in a landscape with birds, gazelles and wolves, verso with floral interlace and interlaced fish, mounted, framed and glazed
Folio 10 x 5 7/8in. (25.4 x 15cm.)

Provenance

Friedrich Sarre

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis

Lot Essay

This exquisite manuscript page is from an important copy of Jami's Yusuf wa Zulaykha copied by Muhammad ibn Ishaq al-Shihabi and dated 964. The text is written in a very fine nasta'liq on burnished gold-sprinkled buff paper. The margins are decorated with arabesques and with forest scenes depicting a variety of animals. Here the animals shown are snow leopards, a pair of storks, crows, gazelle and wolves. The animals are presented in family groups, with the wolf cubs looking on as their parent kills a gazelle. The drawing is of the highest quality.
The interlaced fish arabesques are a feature of this manuscript.
A leaf from this manuscript was sold in these rooms, 14 October 2003, lot 128.
Another leaf from this manuscript is in the C.L.David Collection, Copenhagen (Folsach, K.: Sultan, Shah and Great Mughal, Copenhagen, 1996, no.105, pp. 139, 147-8).

More from Islamic Art & Manuscripts Including Property from The

View All