Folio from a Shahnama (Book of Kings) by Firdawsi (d.1020); recto: illuminated page of text, Baysunghuri preface; verso: twenty-five lines of prose from the Baysunghuri preface

Detached folio from a dispersed copy of the Shahnama (Book of kings) by Firdawsi; text: Persian with a few Arabic lines in black nasta’liq script; recto: illuminated page, Baysunghuri preface, one column, twenty-five lines; verso: text, one column, twenty five lines of prose; one of a group of twenty-six folios.
Border: The text is set in gold, red and purple rulings on cream-colored paper.

View right to left

Historical period(s)
Safavid period, circa 1590-1600
Medium
Ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper
Dimensions
H x W: 32.1 x 19.8 cm (12 5/8 x 7 13/16 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
S1986.389
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Manuscript
Type

Detached manuscript folio

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

Detached folio from a dispersed copy of the Shahnama (Book of kings) by Firdawsi; text: Persian with a few Arabic lines in black nasta'liq script; recto: illuminated page, Baysunghuri preface, one column, twenty-five lines; verso: text, one column, twenty five lines of prose; one of a group of twenty-six folios.
Border: The text is set in gold, red and purple rulings on cream-colored paper.

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. 126, p. 113.
Collection Area(s)
Arts of the Islamic World
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
SI Usage Statement

Usage Conditions Apply

There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

The information presented on this website may be revised and updated at any time as ongoing research progresses or as otherwise warranted. Pending any such revisions and updates, information on this site may be incomplete or inaccurate or may contain typographical errors. Neither the Smithsonian nor its regents, officers, employees, or agents make any representations about the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or timeliness of the information on the site. Use this site and the information provided on it subject to your own judgment. The Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery welcome information that would augment or clarify the ownership history of objects in their collections.