L13223

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Lot 80
  • 80

A large illuminated Qur'an copied by Ahmad al-Nayrizi, dedicated to Fath ‘Ali Shah Qajar, Persia, dated 1112 AH/1700 AD, illumination dated 1237 AH/1821 AD

Estimate
150,000 - 200,000 GBP
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Description

  • Ink & Gold on Paper
Arabic manuscript on polished paper, 266 leaves plus 2 flyleaves, 14 lines to the page, written in black ink within cloud bands against a gold ground throughout, surah headings in gold tawqi script against a blue ground decorated with scrolling vines, opening double shamsa page with large leafy vines decorating the outer margins, further double page frontispiece in colours and gold, final double page polychrome finispiece, elaborate floral medallions bearing the name of 'Sultan Fath 'Ali Shah Qajar' throughout the manuscript, red morocco binding with gilt-stamped medallions, corresponding doublures cut with leather arabesques  

Condition

In generally good overall condition, some rubbing to binding, spine repaired, some minor stains, colours and gold vivid and strong, some pages require reattaching to spine, as viewed. A Qur'an copied by Ahmad al-Nayrizi in 1112 (1700-1701). According to a colophon, the manuscript was restored and illuminated by the order of Fath'ali Shah Qajar in 1237 (1821-2). The final prayer also bears the date 1237 (1821-2). The lozenge-shaped seal-like of Fath'ali Shah (reg. 1212-50 /1297-1838) is also on the colophon page. Similar illuminated seal-like cartouches are found on other manuscripts (For a similar image see: Muhammad-Hasan Semsar, Gulistan Palace Library, Portfolio of Miniature Paintings and Calligraphy, edited and translated by Karim Emami, Teheran, 2000. p. 112). There is a long text in shikasta on the opening, with the seal of Princess Umm Salma daughter of Fath'ali Shah, who made the Qur'an a waqf for the tomb of Muhammad 'Ali Mirza and states that she will be the superintendent as long as she is alive and after her, to her son Muhammad Ja'far Mirza. The text is dated 1246 (1830-31), followed by Umm Salma's seal impression. Umm Salma is recorded as a naskh scribe who copied Qur'ans and prayer books between 1205 (1790-91) and 1249 (1833-4) and most of them are in the Gulistan Palace Library in Tehran. (Mehdi Bayani, Ahval va athar-e khawshnavisan, vol. IV, Tehran, 1358, pp.29-40. Her latest dated Qur'an (1249/1833-4), was sold at Sotheby's 18 October 1995, lot 33) Muhammad 'Ali Mirza must be Fath'ali Shah's son titled Dawlat Shah and brother of Umm Salma. He was Governor of the province of Kermanshahan, fought the Ottomans and died of an epidemic in 1237 (1821-2) while fighting the Ottomans. His body was taken to Kermanshah and was buried in a place he had already made a tomb for himself (Bamdad, vol. iii, pp. 430-31). I have not found anything about where in Kermanshah he is buried and if his tomb still stands. Nothing is reported on Muhammad Ja'far Mirza, who was Umm Salma's only son. From the documentation in the manuscript, it seems that after having been restored and illuminated in 1237 (1821-2), the manuscript was given by Fath'ali Shah to his daughter Umm Salma, who endowed it to her brother's tomb Muhammad 'Ali Mirza Dawlatshah in Kermanshah in 1246 (1830-31).
"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

inscriptions

The lozenge-shaped seal of Fath ’Ali Shah Qajar is present on the colophon page. Similar illuminated seal-like cartouches are found on other manuscripts (for a similar image see Muhammad-Hasan Semsar, Gulistan Palace Library, Portfolio of Miniature Paintings and Calligraphy, edited and translated by Karim Emami, Teheran, 2000. p.112).

The opening page of the Qur’an comprises a long text in shikasteh script, bearing the seal of Princess Umm Salma, daughter of Fath ’Ali Shah. The text is dated 1246 AH/1830-1 AD, followed by Umm Salma’s seal impression. Umm Salma is recorded as a naskh scribe who copied Qur’ans and prayer books between 1790 and 1833-4, most of which are in the Gulistan Palace Library in Tehran (see Mehdi Bayani, Ahval va athar-e khawshnavisan, vol.IV, Tehran, 1358, pp.29-40. Her latest dated Qur’an (1249 AH/1833-4 AD), was sold at Sotheby’s 18 October 1995, lot 33).

Ahmad al-Nayrizi

Best known for his distinctively Persian naskh script, Ahmad al-Nayrizi was active between 1682 and 1739. Originally from the town of Nayriz in Fars, Nayrizi was one of the most important and prolific calligraphers of the late Safavid period. He practised calligraphy under the supervision of Muhammad Ibrahim Ibn Muhammad Nasir Qummi, better known as Agha Ibrahim Qummi, who worked from 1659 to 1707. Sometime in late seventeenth century Nayrizi settled in Isfahan, where Ibrahim Qummi was living, and where he came to the attention of Shah Sultan Husayn (r.1694-1722). The Shah and his court became important patrons of Nayrizi, who is reputed to have commanded large fees for his work; the total income he received over his lifetime is estimated to have reached 60,000 tumans, an incredible sum for the period.

Ahmad al-Nayrizi continued producing work of royal quality for almost two decades, and naskh calligraphers of later generations were proud to associate their skills with him. A further example of his work, Surah Yasin (XXXVI), was sold at Sotheby’s 1 April 2009, lot 11. A single-volume Qu'ran by his hand can be found in the Nasser D. Khalili Collection (see Bayani et al [eds.], The Decorated Word, Vol.IV, 1999, p.128, no.53). For the latest work on the calligrapher see: M.H. Semsar, 'Ahmad Nayrizi' The Great Islamic Encyclopaedia, vol.VII, Tehran, 1998, pp.100-108 and N.Safwat, The Art of the Pen, Nasser D. Khalili Collection of Islamic Art, 1996, pp.212-13).

Fath 'Ali Shah

Fath 'Ali Shah was the second ruler of the Qajar dynasty. Born in 1771, he succeeded his uncle Agha Muhammad in 1797, and reigned until his death in 1834. This was a time of enormous change both at home and abroad. The European powers were competing for the riches of the East and the associated trade, and were keen to foster political and commercial ties in the Middle East and especially South and East Asia. Britain, France and almost all the other countries of Europe were engaged in the Napoleonic Wars, which lent a military and strategic significance to their potential alliances in the East.

There are two Qur’ans in the Gulistan Palace Library, Tehran, which, like the present Qur’an, bear illuminated cartouches with the name of Fath ‘Ali Shah written in the outer margins of the text. A further related Qur’an also dedicated to Fath ‘Ali Shah was sold in these rooms 6 October 2010, lot 22.