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Kitab al-khamsa (Book of the five poems) by Jami (d. 1492)

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At A Glance

Period

1548-1549 (955-956 A.H.)
Geography

Iran
Material

Ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper
Dimension

H x W (overall): 28.2 x 18.1 cm (11 1/8 x 7 1/8 in)
Accession Number

F1907.160
EDAN ID

edanmdm:fsg_F1907.160

Object Details

Description

Manuscript; Kitab al-khamsa (Book of five poems) by Jami; text: Persian in black nasta'liq script with illuminated headings; 213 folios with a double-page frontispiece (fols. 1 verso, 2 recto), 4 sarlawhs (fols. 27 verso, 70 verso,127 verso,180 verso), and dated colophons (fols. 27 recto, 70 recto, 127 recto, 180 recto, 213 recto); standard page: 4 columns, 19 lines of text.

Binding: The manuscript is bound in leather over paper pasteboards with gold block-stamped exterior covers and doublures of gold leather filigree over a multicolored paper ground. The envelope flap has a border and surface identical to that on the exterior cover.
Inscriptions

Colophon for first book (Folio 27, recto):

"and to God be praise...

and peace on Muhammad

and to his servants glory

and peace of abundant

blessings. I have written

it in the months of the year

nine hundred and fifty-five."

70 recto:

Subhatu'l-abrar

"written in the third month

Dhu'l-qa'da the year nine hundred

and fifty-five."

127 recto:

Yusuf u Zulaykha

"written in the eighth month Dhu'l-

hijja the year nine hundred

and fifty-five."

180 recto:

Layla va Majnun

"written in the month Muharram

al haram the year nine hundred

and fifty-six the year of the

Prophet."

213 recto:

Khirad-nama-i-Sikandari (The Book of the wisdom of Alexander).

"Written in the month Safar

finished in the year nine

hundred and fifty-six

the year of the Prophet peace

the year of the Prophet peace
Provenance

To 1907

Bernard Alfred Quaritch, London, to 1907 [1]

From 1907 to 1919

Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Bernard Alfred Quaritch in 1907 [2]

From 1920

Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [3]

Notes:

[1] See Original Purchase List of Persian Manuscripts and Miniatures, pgs. 104-105, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives.

[2] See note 1.

[3] The original deed of Charles Lang Freer's gift was signed in 1906. The collection was received in 1920 upon the completion of the Freer Gallery.
Collection

Freer Gallery of Art Collection
Exhibition History

Art of the Court of Shah Tahmasp (December 16, 1979 to August 14, 1980)
Previous custodian or owner

Bernard Alfred Quaritch (1870-1913) (C.L. Freer source)

Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)
Origin

Iran
Credit Line

Gift of Charles Lang Freer
Type

Manuscript
Restrictions and Rights

Usage Conditions Apply

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