SIGNED MUHAMMAD 'ALI, PALESTINE, DATED AH 1300/1882-83 AD

Details

A CALLIGRAPHIC COMPOSITION IN THE FORM OF A BIRD
SIGNED MUHAMMAD 'ALI, PALESTINE, DATED AH 1300/1882-83 AD
Black and red ink heightened with gold on varnished paper, the calligraphy formed into a bird with an elegant comb and flowing tail perched on a branch with cusped edges, laid down on card and mounted
Folio 15 5/8 x 10¼in. (39.6 x 26.3cm.)

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Lot Essay

Muhammad ‘Ali was a close follower of the well-known Baha’i calligrapher known as Mishkin Qalam. Mirza Husayn Isfahani (d. 25 Dhu'l Hijja AH 1330/6 December 1912 AD) was titled Mishkin Qalam by Nasir al-Din Shah. He wrote in many styles but is best known for his large decorative calligraphic panels, particularly those in the shape of birds (Mishkin Qalam, XIX Century Artist and Calligrapher (1826-1912), Darmstadt, 1992 and Mehdi Bayani, ahval va asar-e khosh-nevisan, Vol. III, Teheran 1348 sh., pp.677-8). A calligraphic panel in the form of two confronted roosters signed by Mishkin Qalam was sold in these Rooms, 8 April 2008, lot 244.

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