Habib al-siyar (Beloved of virtues) by Ghiyath al-Din b. Humam al-Din Muhammad Khwandamir (d. circa. 1534-37), Volume 3

Manuscript; volume three of Habib al-siyar (Beloved of virtues) by Khwandamir; Persian in black, gold and red naskh script; 393 folios with 4 sarlawhs ( fols. 1, 68, 111, and 221 versos), and 10 paintings; inscription on flyleaf and end leaf (1recto, 393 recto/ verso); seals (fols. 1 recto, 393 recto); standard page: 1 column, 35 lines of text.
Binding: The manuscript is bound in leather over paper pasteboards with gold block- stamped exterior covers; the doublures are of gold leather filigree over multicolored paper ground made by Muhammad Zaman Beg.

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Maker(s)
Artist: Muhammad Zaman Beg
Calligrapher: Diya al-Din Muhammad al-Akrami
Patron: Mirza Abu Talib ibn Mirza Ala al-Dawla
Historical period(s)
Safavid period, 1579-80 (987 A.H.)
Medium
Ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper
Dimensions
H x W: 38.4 x 24.7 cm (15 1/8 x 9 3/4 in)
Geography
Iran, Qazvin
Credit Line
Purchase — Smithsonian Unrestricted Trust Funds, Smithsonian Collections Acquisition Program, and Dr. Arthur M. Sackler
Collection
Arthur M. Sackler Collection
Accession Number
S1986.47
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Manuscript
Type

Manuscript

Keywords
Henri Vever collection, Iran, Safavid period (1501 - 1722)
Provenance

?-Possibly to 1907
Octave Marie Joseph Kérim Homberg Sr. (1844-1907), method of acquisition unknown [1]

Likely in 1907-1941
Octave Marie Joseph Kérim Homberg Jr. (1876-1941), likely by inheritance from his father, Octave Marie Joseph Kérim Homberg Sr. [2]

1931
Sale, Paris, Galerie Georges Petit, « Catalogue des tableaux anciens : objets d'art et de haute curiosité européens et orientaux ... la collection de Octave Homberg, : Juin 3-5, 1931, lot 92 [3]

1931-1933
Unidentified collector, likely purchased at Galerie Georges Petite Auction [4]

1933
Sale, Paris, Hôtel Drouot, "Objets d'art de curiosité et d'ameublement, européens et orientaux, antiques, moyen-âge, Renaissance, XVIIIe siècle ... Provenant de la Collection d'un Amateur" March 15 and 16, 1933, lot 34 [5]

1933-1942
Henri Vever (1854-1942), likely purchased at the 1933 Hôtel Drouot sale [6]

1942-1947
Jeanne Louise Monthiers (1861-1947), bequest of Henri Vever [7]

1947-1986
Francois Mautin (1907-2003), bequest of Jeanne Louise Monthiers and Henri Vever [8]

From 1986
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery purchased from Francois Mautin [9]

Notes:

[1]Octave Homberg Senior was Censor of the Bank of France before becoming the Director of the Société Générale, one of the oldest banks in France. He amassed a diverse collection of fine arts, which included medieval European sculpture and Islamic manuscripts and objects. Upon his death, he bequeathed most of his collection to his son, Octave Homberg Jr. The rest was sold at auction at Galerie Georges Petit on May 11-16, 1908 in Paris, France.

[2] Octave Homberg Jr. was a French diplomat, banker, writer, and collector. As one of France's foremost financiers, he served as the French financial agent in the United States and part of the Anglo-French Commission. In the early 1930s, Homberg suffered financial trouble and in 1931 sold most of his art collection, most of which he had inherited from his father. It is possible that Homberg Senior bequeathed this manuscript to his son, Homberg Jr., see note 1.

[3] Galerie Georges Petit, "Catalogue des tableaux anciens : objets d'art et de haute curiosité européens et orientaux ... la collection de Octave Homberg" [auction catalogue] (Paris, June 3-5, 1931), lot 92. See annotations from this auction on the recto of last folio.

[4] See note 5.

[5] Hôtel Drouot, "Objets d'art de curiosité et d'ameublement, européens et orientaux, antiques, moyen-âge, Renaissance, XVIIIe siècle ... Provenant de la Collection d'un Amateur" [auction catalogue] (Paris, March 15 and 16, 1933), lot 36. See clipping from this auction affixed to recto of first folio and Henri Vever's annotations on the same page.

[6] An accomplished French jeweler and collector, Henri Vever (1854-1942) amassed a large and impressive collection of works of art during his lifetime. His holdings in Japanese prints and Islamic arts of the books, especially from Iran and India, were among the most important assembled in the early twentieth century. This work was in Vever's collection at the time of his death in 1942.

[7] Upon Henri Vever's death on September 25, 1942, his wife, Jeanne Louise Monthiers inherited the work. See exhibits F and G of Agreement of Purchase and Sale of the Henri Vever Collection, January 9, 1986, copy in object file.

[8] Upon the death of Jeanne Louise Monthiers, as stipulated in the will of Henri Vever, the family's assets were divided evenly between his two grandchildren. His only grandson, Francois Mautin inherited the collection known as "The Henri Vever Collection of Oriental Art and Manuscripts Including Persian and Indian Art and Manuscripts." This work is part of that collection. See exhibits F and G as cited in note 7.

[9] The Arthur M. Sackler Gallery purchased the entirety of the collection from Francois Mautin on January 9, 1986. See purchase agreement, copy in object file.

Research completed July 11, 2022

Previous Owner(s) and Custodian(s)

Octave Homberg
Octave Marie Joseph Kérim Homberg Sr. 1844-1907
Henri Vever 1854-1942
Jeanne Louise Monthiers 1861-1947
Francois Mautin 1907-2003

Description

Manuscript; volume three of Habib al-siyar (Beloved of virtues) by Khwandamir; Persian in black, gold and red naskh script; 393 folios with 4 sarlawhs ( fols. 1, 68, 111, and 221 versos), and 10 paintings; inscription on flyleaf and end leaf (1recto, 393 recto/ verso); seals (fols. 1 recto, 393 recto); standard page: 1 column, 35 lines of text.
Binding: The manuscript is bound in leather over paper pasteboards with gold block- stamped exterior covers; the doublures are of gold leather filigree over multicolored paper ground made by Muhammad Zaman Beg.

Inscription(s)

Affixed to recto of first flyleaf, using glue and three stickers, clipping from auction catalogue: "36- Manuscrit persan, XVI ͤ siècle. Le second tome d'un exemplaire, qui en comprenait deux, du Habib al-siyar de Khwandamir, contenant la troisième partie de l'ouvrage, dans laquelle se trouve exposée l'histoire du monde islamique, depuis les débuts du règne de Gengis Khan jusqu'à la fin de la souveraineté de Shah Ismaïl Ier, en 1524 ; ce manuscrit a été copié, vraisemblablement à Kazwin, sur les ordres de Mirza Abou Talib, fils de Mirza Ala ad-Daula, dans un très beau naskhi, par un calligraphe hindou, Ziya ad-Din Mohammad al-Agrahi, en l'année 987 de l'hégire (1579) ; quatre sarlohs et neuf peintures, dont quelques-unes signées du nom des meilleurs artistes de la fin du XVIe siècle, Mir Mouzaffar Yazdi, Sadiki Beg Kitabdar, qui était conservateur des livres de la Bibliothèque royale, Syawoush Beg ; reliure soukhta, en cuir estampé et doré." [ From Hôtel Drouot, "Objets d'art de curiosité et d'ameublement, européens et orientaux, antiques, moyen-âge, Renaissance, XVIIIe siècle ... Provenant de la Collection d'un Amateur" [auction catalogue] (Paris, March 15 and 16, 1933), lot 36.]

On the auction clipping, affixed to recto of first folio, upper left corner: "1ere vente en 1931 = no 92 = 34 000" written in pencil

On the auction clipping, affixed to recto of first folio, upper left corner: "2em vente en 1933 = no. 36 = rr sxx" written in pencil

On the auction clipping, affixed to recto of first folio: "O. Homberg 1933" and "ancien no 92 1931" written in pencil

recto of first flyleaf, affixed near spine, white circle sticker: "167" written in blue ink

recto of first flyleaf, upper left corner: "7" written in pencil

recto of first flyleaf, upper left corner: "1er vente Oct H. no 92 1931 = tixxx" written in pencil

recto of first flyleaf, upper left corner: "2e Vente no. 36-1933=rrxxx" written in pencil

recto of first flyleaf, top center: "48 rsfmxx" written in pencil

recto of first flyleaf, left side: "1579" written in pencil

recto of first flyleaf, left side of page: "Ancien 92" underlined in pencil

recto of first flyleaf, left side of page: "36" underlined written in pencil

Verso of last flyleaf left side near spine, rectangular card glued to page: "Ancien no. 92, Vente de 1931" written in black ink. "92" is stenciled on

Verso of last flyleaf, left side near spine, rectangular card glued to page: "34000" and "no. 36 1933 mars rrxxx" written in pencil

Book cover: "the work of Muhammad Zamman Beg, the binder of the private library." Folio 1 recto: "God is great. What I always had in the front of my mind and my fondest hope was that the day will come when, as I had desired, I would meet a perfect [saint]. I was honored to meet the followers of Shaykh Jiv [Heyu or Jiyu], who had attained perfection and who were aware of mystical truth. It occurred to me to pen in this book a few words worth writing as a memento. Therefore these words were written. [I am] hopeful that when it comes under the gaze of individuals of temperament and aware of celestial meaning, they will keep it in the back of their minds. If they become aware of mistakes they will pardon me. Written by the most humble servant of the omniscient King. Rustam [b.] Sultan Husayn b. Bahram in the year [A.H.] 1030 [A.D. 1620-21]."
"The 9th of the month of Jumada II in the year [A.H.] 1151 [A.D. 1742-43]. Volume [...] Habib al-siyar of large size of Dawlatabadi paper. Margined, illuminated, and illustrated with a leather cover, adorned with gold... by the hand of Diya al-Din Muhammad al-Akrami, given to the Biglarbigi of Kuh Giluya, the date of the month of Safar in the year [A.H.] 1080 [A.D. June-July 1669]...The date of the 27th of the month of rabi' I in the year [A.H.] 1105 [A.D. November 26, 1693] entered and was seen."
Folio 393 recto: "the book was finished with the help of the munificent Lord by the hand of the slave, the weak, in need of God's mercy, the lord who has no need, by the least slave of God, Diya al-Din Muhammad al-Akrami. May God forgive him. In the months of the year [A.H.] nine hundred and eighty-seven of the Hegira [A.D. 1579-80] completed the book known as Habib al-siyar, signal of divine guidance, may his sublime shadow never pass away. The descendant of nobles and grandees Mirza Abu-Talib, son of [the late] Mirza Ala al-Dawla may God forgive the owner, the scribe, the viewer, the reader by the sanctity of Muhammad and his family, peace be upon them."

Seals; (fol. 1 recto, circular), by the order of the library of Rustam Sultan Husayn [b.] Bahram, by your mercy forgive [or bestow] all, the friend of God [A.H.] 1028 [A.D. 1618-19]; (rectangular...Ibrahim..; (0val) [illegible]; (square) Mahmud [A.H.] 1115 [A.D. 1703-04]; Sayyid Murtada al-Husayni, [illegible]; (fol. 393 recto, square) devotee of the royal court (murid-i darbar-i padishahi).
Notation on flyleaf reads: Rustam Sultan Husayn b. Bahram in the year A.H. 1030; notation on the end leaf (fol. 393 verso) reads: his lordship the Biglarbagi of Kuh Giluya.

Published References
  • Anthony Welch. Artists from the Shah: Late Sixteenth-Century Painting at the Imperial Court of Iran. New Haven. pp. 28-30, figs. 4, 17.
  • Octave Homberg. Publication title unknown. cat. 92, p. 48, pls. XL-XLI.
  • Glenn D. Lowry, Susan Nemanzee. A Jeweler's Eye: Islamic Arts of the Book from the Vever Collection. Washington and Seattle. cat. 39, pp. 140-141.
  • 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. 209, pp. 180-186.
  • Abolala Soudavar, Milo Cleveland Beach. Art of the Persian Courts: Selections from the Art and History Trust Collection. New York. cat. 49, p. 300.
Collection Area(s)
Arts of the Islamic World
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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