A finely illuminated calligraphic folio from the Bustan of Sa'di, copied by 'Ali Al-Husayni Al-Katib, Persia, Herat, Safavid, dated 932 AH/1525-26 AD
Auction Closed
March 31, 12:40 PM GMT
Estimate
10,000 - 15,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
ink and opaque pigments heightened with gold on paper, recto with 21 lines of text in fine, horizontal nasta'liq script, gold and black intercolumnar rules, five headings in white and red cursive script on gold and polychrome illuminated rectangular panels, with gold-sprinkled pale pink margins, seal impression to upper margin, verso with 13 lines of nasta'liq text arranged in four columns with alternating horizontal and diagonal text panels, triangles of polychrome and gold illumination, two headings in illuminated rectangular panels, with gold-sprinkled dark green paper
leaf: 28.5 by 18.7cm.
text panel: 17.3 by 9.8cm.
The colophon of the manuscript from which this bifolium originates is signed by 'Ali al-Husayni al-Katib and dated 932 AH/1526 AD. 'Ali al-Husayni al-Katib is identified by many as Mir ‘Ali al-Haravi, one of the most celebrated calligraphers of the sixteenth century.
Working under the patronage of the Timurids, Safavids and then, after the seizure of Herat in 1528, in Bukhara under the Shaybanid dynasty, Mir ‘Ali al-Haravi was a prolific calligrapher who, unusually for the time, sometimes allowed his students to sign pieces with his name. He was renowned for his style of nasta'liq and he was highly praised for his qit'as, especially during the Mughal period, as attested by the presence of his calligraphic panels in the Shah Jahan album in the Metropolitan Museum, New York (inv.no.55.121.10.39).
This manuscript was donated by Shah ‘Abbas (r.1588-1629 AD) to the dynastic shrine of Shaykh Safi at Ardabil in 1609. The shrine was sacked by the Russians in 1826 and many manuscripts from the library were dispersed. Two illustrated leaves from this manuscript were sold at Christie’s London, 21 April 2016, lot 100 and 101, whilst a bifolium was sold in these rooms, 26 April 2017, lot 48.
Working under the patronage of the Timurids, Safavids and then, after the seizure of Herat in 1528, in Bukhara under the Shaybanid dynasty, Mir ‘Ali al-Haravi was a prolific calligrapher who, unusually for the time, sometimes allowed his students to sign pieces with his name. He was renowned for his style of nasta'liq and he was highly praised for his qit'as, especially during the Mughal period, as attested by the presence of his calligraphic panels in the Shah Jahan album in the Metropolitan Museum, New York (inv.no.55.121.10.39).
This manuscript was donated by Shah ‘Abbas (r.1588-1629 AD) to the dynastic shrine of Shaykh Safi at Ardabil in 1609. The shrine was sacked by the Russians in 1826 and many manuscripts from the library were dispersed. Two illustrated leaves from this manuscript were sold at Christie’s London, 21 April 2016, lot 100 and 101, whilst a bifolium was sold in these rooms, 26 April 2017, lot 48.