ONE SIGNED MIR 'ALI, SAFAVID IRAN, FIRST HALF 16TH CENTURY

Details

TWO NASTA'LIQ QUATRAINS
ONE SIGNED MIR 'ALI, SAFAVID IRAN, FIRST HALF 16TH CENTURY
Persian manuscript on paper, each panel with 4ll. of elegant black nasta'liq over finely illuminated gold floral ground, a triangular panel above and below of later gold and polychrome illumination, one such panel signed Mir 'Ali, laid down between gold and black rules and minor blue gold-speckled border on light pink margins with bold gold illumination of simurghs and arabesques, slight scuffing
Calligraphy 5 7/8 x 2 7/8in. (15 x 7.4cm.) (2)

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Lot Essay

Mir 'Ali is often mentioned by Safavid sources as among the most important nasta'liq calligraphers of the time, despite never being in the service of a Safavid court. Born in Herat circa 1476, in 1528 he was deported to Bukhara, where he remained until his death circa 1556. The Safavid prince Ibrahim Mirza greatly admired his work and had a large collection of his calligraphy. Sayyid Ahmad wrote of him in AH 972/1564-5 AD that was the equal of Sultan 'Ali Mashhadi. Please see lots 31, 38, 39 and 44 for other works by Mir 'Ali.

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