A QUATRAIN OF KHWAJA ASAFI: A PAGE OF CALLIGRAPHY FROM AN ALBUM MADE FOR SULTAN HUSAYN KHAN SHAMLU, DAR AL-SULTANEH, HERAT, PERSIA, 1007 AH/1598-9 AD

Page from an album, the main panel with four lines of poetry written diagonally in nasta'liq script in black ink on cream paper decorated with a pink stencilled design a qilin amidst floral scrolls, border panels of further lines of calligraphy in a smaller nasta'liq hand in black ink on cream paper, panels of illumination, borders of blue paper with stencilled floral designs in gold, reverse blank

Kirkor Minassian, New York, 1930s-40s
Adrienne Minassian, New York, 1955

This page comes from an album made in the library of the ruler of Khurasan, Sultan Husayn Khan Shamlu, at Herat in 1007/1598-9. For a fuller description of this album and its origin see lot 50.

The poetry in the lateral panels is by Athir al-Din Akhsikati (d.1174) and Muhtasham Kashani (d.1587).