- 81
An illustrated and illuminated bifolium from a manuscript of Firdausi's Shahnameh: Rustam Saves Bihzan from a Well, Central Asia, Bukhara, circa 1670
Estimate
6,000 - 8,000 GBP
bidding is closed
Description
- gouache heightened with gold on gold-sprinkled paper, ink
gouache heightened with gold on gold-sprinkled paper, 4 columns of text in black nasta'liq script above and below the painting, reverse and inside pages with 27 lines of text and 4 headings in red, ruled in gold
Provenance
Ex-collection Octave Homberg, Paris, early-20th century
Condition
In good overall condition, some thumbing and small stains to outer margins, minor paint losses, remnants of old mounting tape sticking corners of bifolium together, colours and gold bright, 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
In the Paris sale of 1931, the manuscript to which this leaf belongs, now dispersed, was described as a collection of "Epopees du Cycle Saitanais." It was an unusual manuscript which included extracts from the major Persian epics: Firdausi's Shahnameh, the Bahman Nameh, the Faramouznameh and the Nariman Nameh.
Originally the manuscript included eighty-five paintings, some of which were signed by Muhammad Muqim and Muhammad Salim. Other paintings by these artists can be found in a manuscript of Nizami's poetry, produced in Bukhara in 1670 for the library of Sultan 'Abd al-Aziz Bahadur Khan, now in the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin.
Originally the manuscript included eighty-five paintings, some of which were signed by Muhammad Muqim and Muhammad Salim. Other paintings by these artists can be found in a manuscript of Nizami's poetry, produced in Bukhara in 1670 for the library of Sultan 'Abd al-Aziz Bahadur Khan, now in the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin.