QAJAR IRAN, DATED 23 RABI I AH 1262/21 MARCH 1846 AD

Details

AN ASTROLOGICAL CALENDAR (RUZNAMA)
QAJAR IRAN, DATED 23 RABI I AH 1262/21 MARCH 1846 AD
Persian manuscript on ivory paper, 21ff. plus two fly-leaves, each with tables and lines of black and red nasta'liq and naskh within polychrome rules, gold floral illumination in margins, headings in red and gold thuluth in illuminated cartouches, four further illuminated headpieces, two tables in gold and polychrome with illustrated astrological animals, gold ruled outer margins, light brown stamped and gilded morocco binding, black morocco doublures
Text panel 8 ¼ x 4 ½in. (21 x 11.5cm.); folio 10 5/8 x 6 ½in. (27 X 16.5cm.)

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Lot Essay

This ruznama was drawn up for Manuchihr Khan (d. 1847 AD), the Georgian eunuch and governor of Isfahan and Arabistan, and gives prognostications for the coming year. It opens with tables of the signs of the zodiac, the Turkish animal calendar, the calendar for the year of composition and sayings of the Imams concerning the sighting of the new moon for each month. This is followed by a calendar for each of the months along with lists of auspicious and inauspicious moments for various activities ending with Rabi’ II of the following year.

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