Inside of a book cover

Object Details

• Provenance

  ?-1914

  Likely Georges Tabbagh (b. ca.1870), method of acquisition unknown [1]

  1914-1942

  Henri Vever (1854-1942), purchased from Georges Tabbagh in Paris, France [2]

  1942-1947

  Jeanne Louise Monthiers (1861-1947), bequest of Henri Vever [3]

  1947-1986

  Francois Mautin (1907-2003), bequest of Jeanne Louise Monthiers and Henri Vever [4]

  From 1986

  Arthur M. Sackler Gallery purchased from Francois Mautin [5]

  Notes:

  [1] This is likely one of the works that Henri Vever purchased from Georges Tabbagh on February 9, 1914. See Henri Vever Account Ledger, February 9, 1914, FSA A1988.042.2, from Henri Vever Papers. Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives. Vever notes that he purchased from Georges Tabbagh at "8 Rue Rossini" in Paris, France. Vever describes the work as "1 plat intérieur de reliure, arabesques découpées en or, sur bleu, vert, etc. (XVIe S.)." Brothers Georges and Emile Tabbagh (ca. 1880-1934) operated the gallery Tabbagh Freres from 1905 to 1936 in Paris. By 1911, the brothers opened another store along 5th Avenue in New York City. They specialized in the sale of Rakka and other Persian works of art, especially manuscripts.

  [2] See note 1. An accomplished French jeweler and collector, Henri Vever (1854-1942) amassed a large and impressive collection of works of art during his lifetime. His holdings in Japanese prints and Islamic arts of the books, especially from Iran and India, were among the most important assembled in the early twentieth century.

  [3] Upon Henri Vever's death on September 25, 1942, his wife, Jeanne Louise Monthiers inherited the work. See exhibits F and G of Agreement of Purchase and Sale of the Henri Vever Collection, January 9, 1986, copy in object file.

  [4] Upon the death of Jeanne Louise Monthiers, as stipulated in the will of Henri Vever, the family's assets were divided evenly between his two grandchildren. His only grandson, Francois Mautin inherited the collection known as "The Henri Vever Collection of Oriental Art and Manuscripts Including Persian and Indian Art and Manuscripts." This work is part of that collection. See exhibits F and G as cited in note 3.

  [5] The Arthur M. Sackler Gallery purchased the collection from Francois Mautin on January 9, 1986. See purchase agreement, copy in object file.

  Research completed February 28, 2022

• Collection

  Arthur M. Sackler Collection

• Exhibition History

  Hunt for Paradise: Courts Arts of Safavid Iran, 1501-1576 (October 16, 2003 to June 27, 2004)

  A Jeweler's Eye: Islamic Arts of the Book from the Vever Collection (November 20, 1988 to April 30, 1989)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Francois Mautin (1907-2003)

  Jeanne Louise Monthiers (1861-1947)

  Henri Vever (1854-1942)

  Georges Tabbagh (b. ca. 1870)

• Origin

  Iran

• Credit Line

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

• Type

  Book

• Restrictions and Rights

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• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1700s, 1710s, 1720s, 1500s, 1610s, 1600s, 1590s, 1540s, 1650s, 1530s, 1640s, 1520s, 1630s, 1510s, 1620s, 1580s, 1730s, 1690s, 1570s, 1680s, 1560s, 1670s, 1550s, 1660s

• Name

  Mautin, Francois Albert, Monthiers, Jeanne Louise, Vever, Henri, Tabbagh, Georges

• Topic

  S?afavid dynasty, 1501-1736, Art, Henri Vever collection, Arts of the Islamic World, Leatherwork

• Culture

  Muslims, Iranians

• Object Type

  Books