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Anthology with works by Jalal ad-Din Rumi (d.1273), Nizami (d. 1209), Sa'di (d.1292) and Sana'i (d. 1131 or 1140)

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At A Glance

Period

1524-1525 (930 A.H.)
Geography

Herat, Afghanistan
Material

Ink, color, and gold on paper; gold stamped and tooled leather
Dimension

H x W x D (closed): 25 x 17.5 x 2.5 cm (9 13/16 x 6 7/8 x 1 in)
Accession Number

F1944.48
EDAN ID

edanmdm:fsg_F1944.48

Object Details

Calligrapher

Mir Ali Husayni (died ca.1544)

Sultan Muhammad Nur (fl. as early as 1494)

Muhammad Qasim ibn Shadishah

Sultan-Muhammad Khandan

Mawlana Shaykh Mahmud
Artist

Kamal al-Din Bihzad (ca. 1467-1535)
Patron

Wazir Khawja Malik Ahmad
Description

Manuscript; Anthology of four texts: Mathnawi by Rumi, Khamsa (Quintet) by Nizami, Bustan (the Orchard) by Sa'di, and Hadiqat al-haqiqat (Garden of truth) by Sana'i; Persian in black minute nasta'liq script; headings in gold and red; 69 folios, 1 flyleaf with inscriptions and seals, 1 shamsa (fol. 3 recto), 4 sarlawh (fols.3 verso, 29 verso, 48 verso, 55 verso); 6 gold stenciled floral design folios with no writing (fols. 28 verso, 29 recto, 47 verso, 48 recto, 54 verso and 55 recto), 1 painting (fol. 3 recto) 4 colophons (fols. 28 recto, 47 recto, 54 recto and 69 verso), and 1 endleaf (fol. 69 verso); inscriptions (fols. flyleaf, 3 recto, 28 recto, 54 recto, 69 recto); standard page: 4 columns, 21 lines of text.

Binding: The manuscript is bound in leather over paper pasteboards with gold block-stamped exterior covers; the doublures contain medallions and corner pieces of gold filigree on a green and blue ground.
Marks

Mughal library seals on fly leaf and folio 69 recto; obliterated seal on folio 68 verso.
Inscriptions

Flyleaf:

"God is greatest. This collection, which is a selection of four books, is my personal property. Value: Rs. 3,000, and it is in pointed miniscule script, better than which has not been written."

"God is greatest. On the 5th of Azar [regnal] year I [this book] entered the library of this petitioner at the divine court. Nuruddin Jahangir Shah son of Akbar Padishah."

"In the name of God the Compassionate, the Merciful. This precious collection, which contains a selection from the Mathnawi [of Jalaluddin Rumi] and a selection from the Hadiqa [Hadiqat al-haqiqat by Sana'i] and others, entered the library of this petitioner at the divine court on the 25th of Bahman, corresponding to the 8th of Jumada II 1037 [February 14, 1628], which is the day of [my] blessed accession. Written by Shihabuddin Muhammad Shahjahan Padishah son of Jahangir Padishah son of Akbar Padishah. Value: Rs. 4,000."

Fol. 3recto, margin:

"Selection from the Mathnawi written by Mir Ali, selection from the Khamsa of Nizami written by Sultan Muhammad Nur, selection from Sa'di's Bustan written by Muhammad Qasim b. Shadishah, selection from the Hadiqa of Hakim Sana'i written by Sultan Muhammad Khandan was [inspected] in Rabi'I 1232 [Jan. 1817]."

Fol. 3recto, painting: "Depicted by the slave Bihzad"

Fol. 28 recto:

"Written by the poor slave Ali al-Husayni, may God forgive his faults, in the year 930 [1523-24] in the city of Herat."

Fol. 54 recto:

"Completed at the hand of the poor sinful slave, Muhammad Qasim b. Shadishah."

Fol. 69 recto:

Fol. 69 recto:
Collection

Freer Gallery of Art Collection
Exhibition History

Nasta’liq: The Genius of Persian Calligraphy (September 13, 2014 to May 3, 2015)

Worlds within Worlds: Imperial Paintings from India and Iran (July 28 to September 16, 2012)

In the Realm of Princes: The Arts of the Book in Fifteenth Century Iran and Central Asia (March 19 to August 7, 2005)

Arts of the Islamic World (May 3, 1998 to January 3, 2016)

Islamic Art (May 9, 1993 to June 3, 1997)

Art of the Court of Shah Tahmasp (December 16, 1979 to August 14, 1980)

Art of the Near East (August 21, 1977 to December 14, 1979)

2500 Years of Persian Art—Paintings, Pottery (February 10, 1972 to June 15, 1973)

Near Eastern Art—Paintings, Pottery (August 18, 1967 to February 10, 1972)

Near Eastern Art (June 5, 1964 to August 18, 1967)

Special Exhibition Afghanistan (September 3, 1963 to June 5, 1964)

Special Exhibition (February 9, 1954 to April 20, 1954)

Special Exhibition, Near Eastern Art (September 15, 1953 to February 9, 1954)

International Exhibition of Persian Art (January 7 to March 7, 1931)
Origin

Herat, Afghanistan
Credit Line

Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment
Type

Manuscript
Restrictions and Rights

Usage Conditions Apply

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