Khusraw u Shirin by Nizami (d.1209)

Object Details

• Calligrapher

  Ali ibn Hasan al-Sultani

• Description

  Manuscript; Khusraw u Shirin from a Khamsa (Quintet) by Nizami; text: Persian in black nasta'liq script with illuminated headings; 62 folios with an unwan (F1931.37), 6 paintings (F 1931.31-36), and 1 shamsa (folio 2 recto); 1 colophon (folio 62verso); seals (fols. 32, 34, 40, 45, 54); coat of arms (flyleaf); standard page: 4 columns, 25 lines of text; one of a group of 9: the binding (F 1931.30) and detached folios with paintings (F1931.31-36) are parts of the manuscript accessioned separately.

  Binding: The manuscript was originally bound in a lacquer painted covers with scenes of feasting and hunting (F1931.30); the binding has been removed.

• Inscriptions

  Colophon, folio 62 verso [126]: "of the poetry of...Shaykh Awhad al-Din Nizami of Ganja...

  Colophon, folio 62 verso [126]: "of the poetry of...Shaykh Awhad al-Din Nizami of Ganja...

• Provenance

  To 1931

  Hagop Kevorkian (1872-1962), New York to 1931 [1]

  From 1931

  Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from Hagop Kevorkian, New York in 1931 [2]

  Notes:

  [1] Object file, undated folder sheet note. See also Freer Gallery of Art Purchase List file, Collections Management Office.

  [2] See note 1.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Nasta’liq: The Genius of Persian Calligraphy (September 13, 2014 to May 3, 2015)

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

  From the Hand of Mani (January 18, 1985 to July 5, 1985)

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

• Previous custodian or owner

  Hagop Kevorkian (1872-1962)

• Origin

  Tabriz, Iran

• 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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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1400s, 1300s

• Name

  Kevorkian, Hagop

• Place

  Tabriz

• Topic

  Art, Timurid period (1378 - 1506), Arts of the Islamic World, Illumination, Shirin, Khusraw

• Culture

  Muslims, Iranians

• Language

  Nasta?li-q script

• Object Type

  Manuscripts