Folio from a Shahnama (Book of kings) by Firdawsi (d. 1020): recto: Faridun goes to Iraj's palace and mourns; verso: text

Detail of a pattern
Image 1 of 3
Download Image IIIF

Terms of Use

Usage Conditions Apply

At A Glance

  • Period

    ca. 1330-1340
  • Geography

    Tabriz, Iran
  • Material

    Ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper
  • Dimension

    H x W: 59.3 x 40.1 cm (23 3/8 x 15 13/16 in)
  • Accession Number

    S1986.100
  • EDAN ID

    edanmdm:fsg_S1986.100

Object Details

  • Description

    Detached folio from a dispersed copy of Shahnama (Book of kings) by Firdawsi; text: Persian in black naskh script, heading in gold naskh outlined in black; recto: Faridun goes to Iraj's palace and mourns for him, unrelated text, six columns, 31 lines; verso unrelated text, six columns, 31 lines; one of a group of 16 folios (F1923.5, F1930.78, F1930.79, F1935.23, F1935.24, F1938.3, F1942.2, S1986.100, S1986.101, S1986.102, S1986.103, S1986.104, S1986.105.1, S1986.105.2, S1986.106, S1986.107).
    Border: The recto and verso are set in gold, black and blue rulings on cream-colored paper.
  • Provenance

    To 1913
    Georges Demotte (1877-1923), Paris, France. [1]
    From 1913 to 1942
    Henri Vever (1854-1942), Paris and Noyers, France, purchased from Georges Demotte, Paris, France on July 23, 1913. [2]
    From 1942 to 1986
    Family member, Paris and Boulogne, France, by inheritance from Henri Vever, Paris and Noyers, France. [3]
    From 1986
    Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, purchased from a family member, Paris and Boulogne, France. [4]
    Notes:
    [1] See Susan Nemazee, "Appendix 7: Chart of Recent Provenance" in An Annotated and Illustrated Checklist of the Vever Collection, Glenn D. Lowry et al (Washington, DC: Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; Seattle and London: University of Washington Press, 1988), p. 401. See also Glen D. Lowry and Susan Nemazee, "Appendix 2: Ledger of Acquisitions, 1894 and 1907-17" in A Jeweler’s Eye: Islamic Arts of the Book from the Vever Collection (Washington, DC: Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; Seattle and London: University of Washington Press, 1988), p. 234.
    [2] See note 1.
    [3] See the Agreement for the Purchase and Sale of the Henri Vever Collection of January 9, 1986, Collections Management Office.
    [4] See note 3.
  • Collection

    Arthur M. Sackler Collection
  • Exhibition History

    The Art of Painting a Story: Narrative Images from Iran (December 22, 1991 to May 10, 1992)
    A Jeweler's Eye: Islamic Arts of the Book from the Vever Collection (November 20, 1988 to April 30, 1989)
  • Previous custodian or owner

    Henri Vever (1854-1942)
    Georges Demotte (1877-1923)
    Francois Mautin (1907-2003)
  • Origin

    Tabriz, Iran
  • Credit Line

    Purchase — Smithsonian Unrestricted Trust Funds, Smithsonian Collections Acquisition Program, and Dr. Arthur M. Sackler
  • 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.

    The information presented on this website may be revised and updated at any time as ongoing research progresses or as otherwise warranted. Pending any such revisions and updates, information on this site may be incomplete or inaccurate or may contain typographical errors. Neither the Smithsonian nor its regents, officers, employees, or agents make any representations about the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or timeliness of the information on the site. Use this site and the information provided on it subject to your own judgment. The National Museum of Asian Art welcomes information that would augment or clarify the ownership history of objects in their collections.

Keep Exploring