Folio from a Khamsa (Quintet) by Nizami (d.1209); recto: text; verso: text

Detached folio from a dispersed copy of Khamas (Quintet) by Nizami; Persian in black and blue nasta’liq script; recto: text, the Tenth discourse: In the principality rule of the end of the world, two columns, eleven lines, illuminated heading; verso: text, two columns, eleven lines; marginal inscription; one of a group of four folios.
Border: The recto is set in purple, gold, and blue rulings on cream-colored paper with animal and floral motifs and marginal cartouches; the verso is set in gold, purple, blue, and red rulings on colored paper with marginal cartouches, and medallions containing human figures.

View right to left

Historical period(s)
Safavid period, circa 1575
Medium
Opaque watercolor, ink and gold on paper
Dimensions
H x W: 26.3 x 17 cm (10 3/8 x 6 11/16 in)
Geography
Iran
Credit Line
Purchase — Smithsonian Unrestricted Trust Funds, Smithsonian Collections Acquisition Program, and Dr. Arthur M. Sackler
Collection
Arthur M. Sackler Collection
Accession Number
S1986.384
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Manuscript
Type

Detached manuscript folio

Keywords
Henri Vever collection, illumination, Iran, Khamsa, poems, Safavid period (1501 - 1722)
Provenance
Provenance research underway.
Description

Detached folio from a dispersed copy of Khamas (Quintet) by Nizami; Persian in black and blue nasta'liq script; recto: text, the Tenth discourse: In the principality rule of the end of the world, two columns, eleven lines, illuminated heading; verso: text, two columns, eleven lines; marginal inscription; one of a group of four folios.
Border: The recto is set in purple, gold, and blue rulings on cream-colored paper with animal and floral motifs and marginal cartouches; the verso is set in gold, purple, blue, and red rulings on colored paper with marginal cartouches, and medallions containing human figures.

Inscription(s)

Verso, (in margin) Slave of the King, Duraq

Published References
  • Glenn D. Lowry, Milo Cleveland Beach, Elisabeth West FitzHugh, Susan Nemanzee, Janet Snyder. An Annotated and Illustrated Checklist of the Vever Collection. Washington and Seattle. cat. 262, p. 232.
Collection Area(s)
Arts of the Islamic World
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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