Folio of calligraphy by Kamal al-Din Ikhtiyar al-Munshi al-Sultani (d. 974)

Object Details

• Artist

  Kamal al-Din Ikhtiyar (died 974 A.H.)

• Description

  Panel of calligraphy; text: Persian in white, gold, blue and black ta'liq script; signed by Kamal al-Din Ikhtiyar al- munshi al-sultani and dated 1552 (959 A.H.); triangular illuminated corner panels; one of a group of three folios.

  Border: The calligraphic panel is set in gold, black and red rulings mounted on blue gold-sprinkled paperboard.

• Inscriptions

  The lower right corner piece: “in the month of Ramadan, year [A.H.] 959, [A.D.1552]."

  The lower right corner piece: “in the month of Ramadan, year [A.H.] 959, [A.D.1552]."

• Label

  This folio is written in an elaborate cursive style, generally known as shikasta ("broken" in Persian). The script form flourished in sixteenth-century Iran and is characterized by the looping connections of certain letters and by the close, staggered placement of words. The structure of the line tends to be quite dense and is accentuated by the curved alignment of the verses. The use of white, red, yellow, and blue in addition to the traditional black ink heightens the script's complexity.

  The calligrapher of this remarkable folio is Kamal al-Din, also known as Vahid al-Ayn, or the "one-eyed." A native of Herat, Kamal al-Din lived for some time in the holy city of Qum and subsequently came to the Safavid capital Tabriz, where he worked at the court of Shah Tahmasb (reigned 1524-76). The king held Kamal al-Din in high regard and offered him many gifts, but the artist accepted none, preferring a simple and humble life. Written in heavily arabicized Persian, this text goes to elaborate design lengths to extol the qualities of a high-ranking individual and bestow good wishes upon him.

• Provenance

  To 1929

  Kirkor Minassian, New York to 1929 [1]

  From 1929

  Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from Kirkor Minassian, New York on April 5, 1929 [2]

  Notes:

  [1] Object file, undated folder sheet note.

  [2] See note 1. Also see Freer Gallery of Art Purchase List file, Collections Management Office.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Engaging the Senses (October 14, 2017 - ongoing)

  Arts of the Islamic World (May 3, 1998 to January 3, 2016)

  From Concept to Context: Approaches to Asian and Islamic Calligraphy (July 28, 1986 to February 6, 1987)

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

  Untitled Exhibition, Persian and Near Eastern Art (May 5, 1933 to September 24, 1947)

  Untitled Exhibition, South Asian and Persian Art (March 24, 1930 to March 14, 1931)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Kirkor Minassian (1874-1944)

• Origin

  Herat, Afghanistan

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Manuscript

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

  There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

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  collections.si.edu

• Date

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• Name

  Minassian, Kirkor

• Place

  Afghanistan, Herat

• Topic

  S?afavid dynasty, 1501-1736, Art, Ta'liq script, Arts of the Islamic World, Illumination

• Culture

  Muslims, Iranians

• Object Type

  Manuscripts