Lot 55
  • 55

A FULLY ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT OF THE BUSTAN OF SA'DI, COPIED FOR A HIGH-RANKING MINISTER MIRZA MUHAMMAD BAQIR, PERSIA, LATE 18TH OR 19TH CENTURY

Estimate
40,000 - 60,000 GBP
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Description

  • vellum
Illuminated Persian manuscript on paper, 138 leaves, text written in shikasteh script in black ink, text arranged in three columns of two-line diagonal square panels, interlinear gilt decoration, triangular panels surrounding text panels infilled with gilt floral decoration, numerous polychrome illuminated heading panels, margins ruled in gold and black, outer margins illuminated througout with polychrome floral illumination, opening double page frontispiece illuminated in colours and gold, opening flyleaf with ownership inscriptions, colophon at end with date altered, possibly originally reading 1274, contemporary lacquer binding with main rectangular panels painted with a rose bush in gold, border bands of gilt floral scrolls

Condition

Overall good condition, binding shows wear, corners of cover slightly worn away, a few minor stains, otherwise good bold colours, gold pigment slightly rubbed away on some pages, as viewed.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Catalogue Note

This is a finely and luxuriously illuminated copy of Sadi's Bustan, with every single page decorated with floral illumination throughout.  The text is arranged in a highly original manner, with fifteen small square panels per page, each containing two lines of text.

The date in the colophon at the end has been altered and now reads 1704, which is meaningless. It may originally have read either 1274 (1857) or more likely 1174 (1760), which would correspond most closely with the style of script and illumination.  It would also correspond with the attribution, contained in a note on the opening flyleaf, to Abd al-Majid al-Taliqani, the well-known shikasteh scribe, who was active at that period. The attribution note itself is written by Abu'l-Fazl ibn Fazlullah al-Savaji and is dated 1303 (1885-6). But the original date of the manuscript remains a puzzle, because this same inscription of attribution on the flyleaf at the beginning mentions that the date of the manuscript 1074 (perhaps a mis-reading of the current 1704), which means that the original date must have been altered before that note was written in 1303.

Other ownership inscriptions and seals on the opening flyleaf record that the manuscript belonged to a certain Muhammad Shafi' and a certain Muhammad Zaki (the later seal dated 1288 AH/1871-2 AD). It was in the library of Farhad Mirza, the 15th son of Abbas Mirza Na'ib al-Sultaneh (d.1305/1887-8), who acquired it on 25th Dhu'l-Qa'da 1303 (25 August 1886). The note is in the hand of the prince himself.

The identity of the patron, whose titles are many and glorious and include "the High Commander" and "the Pillar of Ministers" (as described in the colophon at the end), has not been identified.