Page of calligraphy

Object Details

• Calligrapher

  Masih-allah al-Husayni (active early 17th century)

• Description

  Detached folio from an unidentified text; Persian in black nasta'liq script; a quatrain within a central panel; corners embellished with triangular illuminated panels; signed by Muhammad Masih-Allah al-Husayni.

  Border: The text is set in gold, black, and white rulings in a gold floral and leaf scroll.

• Inscriptions

  Bottom page, left, Aghal Muhammad Masih-Allah al-Husayni

  Bottom page, left, Aghal Muhammad Masih-Allah al-Husayni

• Provenance

  To 1993

  Sale, Sotheby's, London, Arcade Auction, May 1993 [1]

  To 1997

  Ralph and Catherine Benkaim, Beverly Hills, CA, to 1997 [2]

  From 1997

  Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, given by Ralph and Catherine Benkaim in 1997

  Notes:

  [1] According to Provenance Remark 1 in the object record: "Sold, Sotheby's, London, Arcade sale, May 1993."

  [2] According to Provenance Remark 1 in the object record.

• Collection

  National Museum of Asian Art Collection

• Previous custodian or owner

  Sotheby's (London)

  Ralph and Catherine Benkaim

• Origin

  Isfahan, Iran

• Credit Line

  The Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection

• 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

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1610s

• Name

  Sotheby's (London), Benkaim, Ralph and Catherine

• Place

  Isfahan

• Topic

  Art, Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection, Arts of the Islamic World, Marbling

• Culture

  Muslims, Iranians

• Language

  Nasta?li-q script

• Object Type

  Manuscripts