Lot 14

SHEIKH MUSLIH AL-DIN SA'DI (D. AH 691/1292 AD): BUSTAN

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A COPY OF THE BUSTAN OF SA'DI MADE FOR TURSUN, A VIZIER OF 'ABDALLAH KHAN, THE SHAYBANID RULER OF BUKHARA

SHEIKH MUSLIH AL-DIN SA'DI (D. AH 691/1292 AD): BUSTAN

MADE FOR TURSUN, VIZIER TO 'ABDALLAH KHAN OF BUKHARA (R. 1556-1598), ILLUSTRATED AND PROBABLY ILLUMINATED BY MAHMUD MUZAHHIB, BUKHARA, DATED AH 969/1561-62 AD AND AH 970/1562-63 AD

Details

SHEIKH MUSLIH AL-DIN SA'DI (D. AH 691/1292 AD): BUSTAN
MADE FOR TURSUN, VIZIER TO 'ABDALLAH KHAN OF BUKHARA (R. 1556-1598), ILLUSTRATED AND PROBABLY ILLUMINATED BY MAHMUD MUZAHHIB, BUKHARA, DATED AH 969/1561-62 AD AND AH 970/1562-63 AD
Poetry, Persian manuscript on gold sprinkled paper, 152ff. plus 8 fly-leaves, each folio with 14ll. of elegant black nasta'liq in two columns with double gold intercolumnar rules, laid down between variously coloured rules and minor coloured borders with gold floral scrolling decoration on wide borders of thick coloured paper with delicate scrolling floral illumination and five applied floral cartouches of contrasting colours containing gold arabesques, titles in red nasta'liq on ground of gold scrolls, catchwords, opening bifolio with elaborate gold and polychrome illumination framing the central 5ll. of nasta'liq in clouds reserved against an illuminated ground, with 5 contemporary illustrations, three inscribed with the name of 'Abdallah Bahadur Khan, two signed Mahmud Muzahhib, two dated 969, one dated 970, some wormholing, restoration to the lower inner corners of many pages, in later brown morocco with gilt stamped medallion and spandrels, flap of binding now seperated
Text panels 5 x 2 5/8in. (14.7 x 6.5cm.); folio 10 7/8 x 6in. (27.5 x 17.2cm.)

Provenance

The Hispanic Society of America, sold in these Rooms, 7 October 2008, lot 175

Brought to you by

Andrew Butler-Wheelhouse

abutler-wheelhouse@christies.com +44 (0)20 7389 2372

Lot Essay

The miniatures and inscriptions incorporated within them are as follows:

1. Dara and his keeper of horses
2. Moses and the Zorastrian - The building with the inscription: fi ayyam-i al-dawlat al-khaqan al-a'zam abu'l-ghazi 'abdallah bahadur khan khallada allah ta'ala mulkihi wa sultanihi fi shuhur sana 969, '[it was finished] during the reign of the most great Emperor, Abu'l Ghazi 'Abdallah Bahadur Khan - may God the Mighty make his Kingdom and his power eternal - in the course of the year 969 [1561-2 AD]'. Above the door is the inscription: jihat-e janab-e vezarat ma'ab amir-e mehtar tursun be-etmam rasid, 'it was finished for His Excellency, with the seat of Vizierate, the Greatest Commander, Tursun'. The miniature is signed around the door frame: 'amal Mahmud Muzzahib.
3. The beautiful physician and his patient - Inscribed fi ayyam al-dawlat al-khaqan al-a'zam abu'l ghazi 'abdallah bahadur khan khallada allah ta'ala mulkihi wa sultanihi, '[it was finished] during the reign of the most great Emperor, Abu'l-Ghazi 'Abdallah Bahadur Khan, may God the Mighty make his kingdom and his power eternal'.
4. Father in ecstasy listening to his son playing the flute - Inscribed fi ayyam-i al-dawlat al-khaqan al-a'zam al-akram abu'l-ghazi 'abdallah bahadur khan fi sana 970, '[it was finished] during the reign of the most great Emperor, the most generous, Abu'l Ghazi 'Abdallah Bahadur Khan in the year 970 [1562-63 AD]'. The signature of the artist is found in the margin below the miniature, 'amal Mahmoud Muzahhib.
5. Malik Salih receiving the homeless dervishes - Inscribed fi ayyam-i al-dawlat al-khaqan al-a'zam al-akram abu'l-ghazi 'abdallah bahadur khan khallada allah ta'ala mulkihi wa sultanihi fi sana 969, '[it was finished] during the reign of the most great Emperor, the most generous, Abu'l Ghazi 'Abdallah Bahadur Khan - may God the Mighty make his kingdom and his power eternal - in the year 969 [1561-2 AD].

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