- 224
An album page with a Safavid drawing and borders from an album made for Emperor Shah Jahan, Persia and India, circa 1625-50
Estimate
20,000 - 25,000 GBP
bidding is closed
Description
- ink, gouache and gold on paper
ink, gouache and gold on paper, the drawing with false attribution to the artist Farrukh Beg, laid down with inner borders of floral illumination with panels of nasta'liq calligraphy, wide outer borders with floral decoration from an album made for Emperor Shah Jahan
Provenance
Formerly in the Ardeshir Collection
Sotheby's, London, 'The Property of a Gentleman', 10 July 1973, lot 8
Sotheby's, London, 'The Property of a Gentleman', 10 July 1973, lot 8
Condition
Fair condition. Some discoloration and surface defects in borders and drawing. Small areas of losses at lower right and left corners. 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."
"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 album page has been assembled using the exquisite floral borders from one of the well-known albums made for the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. The albums made for Shah Jahan and his father Jahangir in the first half of the seventeenth century were notable for the extremely high quality of the border decoration, and the leading artists of the royal atelier were employed to decorate them.
The skillful drawing of an old man with a grey beard is executed in Safavid style of the first half of the seventeenth century, approximately contemporaneous with the production of the royal albums of Shah Jahan. However, it is probably not the original work intended for this album page. More likely, it was inserted into these borders, which may have lost their original central panel, sometime in the early twentieth century, when many album leaves were disassembled and re-assembled. The drawing bears a later and fictitious attribution to the Perso-Mughal artist Farrukh Beg.
The skillful drawing of an old man with a grey beard is executed in Safavid style of the first half of the seventeenth century, approximately contemporaneous with the production of the royal albums of Shah Jahan. However, it is probably not the original work intended for this album page. More likely, it was inserted into these borders, which may have lost their original central panel, sometime in the early twentieth century, when many album leaves were disassembled and re-assembled. The drawing bears a later and fictitious attribution to the Perso-Mughal artist Farrukh Beg.