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Lot Essay
Inscription: In the red bands to either side, repeated in mirror form, Qur'an LXI, sura al-saff, v.13 In green reserved against yellow in the outer bands, repeated in mirror form, ya muhammad, 'O Muhammad' Running down the cartouches in the centre, repeated in mirror form, Ia imam husayn wa shahid 1122, 'O Imam Husayn and Martyr! 1122'
There are at least three other known textiles of this type in which the date is given next to an invocation to Husayn. One of these sold in these Rooms, 8 April 2008, lot 190. The appearance of the date next to an invocation is reminiscent of a number of seals with similar inscriptions in which the name of the bearer is concealed in an invocation to one of the 12 Imams or God. However, since all of the pieces bearing Husayn's name are dated during the reign of Shah Sultan Husayn (r. 1694-1722), it is difficult to conclude whether the invocation refers to the one who commissioned it (i.e. Sultan Husayn), the craftsman (who bore the name Husayn) or of course Husayn the third Imam.
A related panel, with different overall design, but similar decorative elements is in the Musée des Tissus de Lyon (Armen Tokatilian, Soies de Paradis, Paris, 2008, no.38, pp.100-01). Another is in the Museum of Islamic Art in Qatar (Jon Thompson, Silk 13th to 18th Centuries, Doha, 2004, no.10, pp.46-49). Another sold in these Rooms, 8 April 2008, lot 190.
For another Safavid tomb cover, please see the preceding lot.
There are at least three other known textiles of this type in which the date is given next to an invocation to Husayn. One of these sold in these Rooms, 8 April 2008, lot 190. The appearance of the date next to an invocation is reminiscent of a number of seals with similar inscriptions in which the name of the bearer is concealed in an invocation to one of the 12 Imams or God. However, since all of the pieces bearing Husayn's name are dated during the reign of Shah Sultan Husayn (r. 1694-1722), it is difficult to conclude whether the invocation refers to the one who commissioned it (i.e. Sultan Husayn), the craftsman (who bore the name Husayn) or of course Husayn the third Imam.
A related panel, with different overall design, but similar decorative elements is in the Musée des Tissus de Lyon (Armen Tokatilian, Soies de Paradis, Paris, 2008, no.38, pp.100-01). Another is in the Museum of Islamic Art in Qatar (Jon Thompson, Silk 13th to 18th Centuries, Doha, 2004, no.10, pp.46-49). Another sold in these Rooms, 8 April 2008, lot 190.
For another Safavid tomb cover, please see the preceding lot.