Folio from a Divan (Collected poems) by Hafiz (d. 1390); A scene in a tavern

Object Details

• Calligrapher

  Muhammad al-Qiwam al-Katib al-Shirazi (ca. 1537-1585)

• Description

  Manuscript; Divan (Collected poems) by Hafiz; Persian in black and white nasta'liq script; 207 folios with a double-page frontispiece (fols. 1 verso,1 recto), a double-page illumination (fols.19 verso, 20recto), a sarlawh (folio 8 verso), illuminated headings, 4 paintings (fols. 38 verso, 114 recto, 140 verso, 165 recto), and a dated colophon (folio 207 recto); seals (fols. 3, 8,19,140 recto and 140 verso); inscriptions on flyleaf (folio 1 recto) and end leaf (folio 207 recto/ verso); standard page: 2 columns, 12 lines of text.

  Binding: The manuscript is bound in leather over paper pasteboards with gold block-stamped exterior covers, the doublures are of gold block-stamped and leather filigree over a multicolored paper ground. The envelop flap has a border and surface identical to that on the upper and lower covers.

• Inscriptions

  Flyleaf:" in the name of God the merciful [?]; In the month of Safar [A. H.] 1294 [A. D. January 1877]."

  Fol. 1recto: "his excellency, the most glorious, most noble and most grand, Lord Mushir al-Dawla, the minister of foreign affairs, may God increase his prosperity, gave this single volume of the book of Khwaja Hafiz as a gift to this faithful servant. Written by Muhammad Husayn on Friday the 21st of the month of Rabi' I [A.H.] 1304 [A. D. December 18, 1886]."

  Fol. 207 recto: "written by this sinful slave who hopes [for forgiveness], Muhammad al-Qiwam al-Katib al-Shirazi. May God; forgive his sins and disregard his faults. [A. H.] 906 [A.D. 1501-1502]."

  Fol. 207 verso: "The number of folios in this book [is] two hundred and seven folios (207)." Seals: fol. 8 recto, 140 recto (square): al-Mahdi is he whom you guide.

  Fol. 207 verso: "The number of folios in this book [is] two hundred and seven folios (207)." Seals: fol. 8 recto, 140 recto (square): al-Mahdi is he whom you guide.

• Provenance

  ?-1942

  Henri Vever (1851-1942), method of acquisition unknown [1]

  1942-1947

  Jeanne Louise Monthiers (1861-1947), bequest of Henri Vever [2]

  1947-1986

  Francois Mautin (1907-2003), bequest of Jeanne Louise Monthiers and Henri Vever [3]

  From 1986

  The National Museum of Asian Art, by purchased from Francois Mautin [4]

  Notes:

  [1] 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.

  [2] 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.

  [3] 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.

  [4] The Museum 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 June 27, 2024

• Collection

  Arthur M. Sackler Collection

• Exhibition History

  Paintings from Shiraz (December 24, 1994 to August 27, 1995)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Henri Vever (1854-1942)

  Francois Mautin (1907-2003)

• Origin

  Shiraz, 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.

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• Date

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• Name

  Mautin, Francois Albert, Vever, Henri

• Place

  Shiraz

• Topic

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

• Culture

  Muslims, Iranians

• Language

  Nasta?li-q script

• Object Type

  Manuscripts