SAFAVID PERSIA, AH 966/1558-9 AD

Details

JAMAL AL-DIN ABU MUHAMMAD NIZAMI (D. AH 613/1217 AD): KHAMSEH
SAFAVID PERSIA, AH 966/1558-9 AD
Persian manuscript on buff paper, 342ff. as numbered with 21ll. of neat black nasta'liq arranged in four gold-outlined columns, titles in red, blue and gold and polychrome illuminated title pages, with twenty- three miniatures, final folio with colophon signed Khwaja Mir ibn Shams al-Din Muhammad Munshi Astarabadi and dated 966, opening folios lacking, some flaking of paint and light staining, in black morocco binding with stamped decoration
Folio 9¼ x 6¼in. (23.2 x 15.8cm.); Text 6¾ x 3 7/8in. (16.3 x 9.8cm.)

Provenance

Anon sale in these Rooms, 13 October 1998, lot 74

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 15% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis. Please note that the lots of Iranian origin are subject to U.S. trade restrictions which currently prohibit the import into the United States. Similar restrictions may apply in other countries.

Lot Essay

This very interesting and unusual manuscript was written in Astarabad, near the Caspian Sea.

The miniatures are as follows:
1. Anushirvan and the owls
2. Battle between Khusraw and Bahram Chubin
3. Farhad brought before Khusraw
4. Khusraw arriving at Shirin's castle
5. Khusraw and Shirin together
6. Majnun brought in chains to Layla's tent
7. Majnun in the wilderness with the animals
8. Majnun kneeling by Layla's tent
9. Battle scene
10. Bahram Gur with the Moorish Princess in the Yellow Pavilion
11. Bahram Gur with the Tartar Princess in the Green Pavilion
12. Bahram Gur with the Russian Princess in the Red Pavilion
13. Unidentified
14. Bahram Gur with the Greek Princess in the White Pavilion
15. The Prophet Muhammad on Buraq
16. Iskandar with the Khaqan of Chin
17. Iskandar fighting the Zangis
18. Iskandar comforting the dying Dara
19. Iskandar with Nushabeh
20. Unidentified
21. Battle scene
22. Unidentified
23. Court scene

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