Folio from a Shahnama (Book of kings) by Firdawsi (d.1020); recto: Rustam catches Rakhsh; verso: text: Rostam and Kay Qobad, The reign of Kay Qobad

Object Details

• Description

  Detached folio from a dispersed copy of the Shahnama (Book of kings) by Firdawsi; text: Persian in black naskh script; headings in red; recto: illustration and text, Rustam catches Rakhsh, six columns, thirty-four lines; verso: text, Rustam and Kay Qubad, The reign of Kay Qubad, six columns, thirty-four lines; one of a group of four folios.

  Border: The text is set in red rulings on cream-colored paper.

• Marks

  Folio with calligraphy (verso) at top of the page: 408 in a circle, 280 –WNN, written in pencil

  Mounting board: Nadir Schah, written in pencil

  Old matting: Vever 325, written in pencil

  Old matting: rectangle sticker with blue boarder, 325 written in blue pencil

  Old matting: Nadir Shah [sic], written in pencil

  Old matting: Est. Dem. pnx, written in pencil

  Old matting: Est. Dem. pnx, written in pencil

• Provenance

  ?-?

  Possibly Georges Demotte (1877-1923), method of acquisition unknown [1]

  ?-1942

  Henri Vever (1854-1942), method of acquisition unknown [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

  National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, purchased from Francois Mautin [5]

  Notes:

  [1] See annotation “Est. D” on the old matting, which suggests the work was estimated and possibly sold by Georges Demotte to Vever. Georges Demotte was a collector and dealer of Islamic and medieval European art. He had galleries in Paris and New York City.

  [2] An accomplished French jeweler and collector, Henri Vever 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. This object was in Vever's collection at the time of his death in 1942. This work was in his collection at the time of his death.

  [3] Upon Henri Vever's death on September 25, 1942, his wife, Jeanne Louise Monthiers inherited the object. 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 object is part of that collection. See exhibits F and G as cited in note 3.

  [5] The Arthur M. Sackler Gallery purchased the entirety of the collection from Francois Mautin on January 9, 1986. See purchase agreement, copy in object file. This work is part of the Museum’s Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Collection.

  Research updated on April 18, 2024.

• Collection

  Arthur M. Sackler Collection

• Previous custodian or owner

  Possibly Georges Demotte (1877-1923)

  Henri Vever (1854-1942)

  Jeanne Louise Monthiers (1861-1947)

  Francois Mautin (1907-2003)

• Origin

  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

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1500s, 1400s

• Name

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

• Topic

  Art, Animals, Rustam, Henri Vever collection, Rakhsh, Horses, Arts of the Islamic World, Shahnama

• Culture

  Muslims, Iranians

• Object Type

  Manuscripts