Page of calligraphy

Detached album folio; Page of calligraphies; Persian in black nasta’liq script; four calligraphic panels: three couplets by sultan Mahmud al-Katib in the upper right-hand corner; two couplets by Shah-Muhammad in lower right-hand corner; two couplets by Sultan Muhammad Nur in lower left-hand corner; triangular embellishment above the lower left panel signed by Sultan Ali al-Mashhadi; two couplets in the upper left-hand corner; corners embellished with triangular illuminated panels.
Border: The text panels are set in gold, red, and blue rulings mounted on marbled gold-sprinkled paperboard.

… Read More

Maker(s)
Calligrapher: Sultan Muhammad Nur Sultan Mahmud Sultan 'Ali Mashhadi Shah Muhammad
Historical period(s)
Safavid period, 16th century; 1563 (970 A.H.)
Medium
Opaque watercolor, ink, and gold on paper
Dimensions
H x W: 47.1 x 32 cm (18 9/16 x 12 5/8 in)
Geography
Iran
Credit Line
Purchase — Smithsonian Unrestricted Trust Funds, Smithsonian Collections Acquisition Program, and Dr. Arthur M. Sackler
Collection
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
Accession Number
S1986.349
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Album, Calligraphy
Type

Detached album folio

Keywords
Henri Vever collection, Iran, nasta'liq script, Safavid period (1501 - 1722), WWII-era provenance
Provenance
Provenance research underway.
Description

Detached album folio; Page of calligraphies; Persian in black nasta'liq script; four calligraphic panels: three couplets by sultan Mahmud al-Katib in the upper right-hand corner; two couplets by Shah-Muhammad in lower right-hand corner; two couplets by Sultan Muhammad Nur in lower left-hand corner; triangular embellishment above the lower left panel signed by Sultan Ali al-Mashhadi; two couplets in the upper left-hand corner; corners embellished with triangular illuminated panels.
Border: The text panels are set in gold, red, and blue rulings mounted on marbled gold-sprinkled paperboard.

Inscription(s)

Upper right-hand side panel: al-Abd al-moznab Sultan Mahmud al-Katib dar Ahmad Abad neveshteh shoud in seneh 970.
“Written by the hand of sinful slave Mahmud al-Katib in Ahmad Abad in the year [A.H.] 970- [A.D. 1563]."
Lower right-hand corner: fagir Shah-Muhammad
" Poor Shah- Muhammad"
Lower left-hand corner: Mashgheh al-'abd Sultan Muhammad Noor, ghafr-u- tobeh.
“Written by the slave Sultan Muhammad Noor, may God forgive his sins."

Triangular embellishment above the lower left panel signed by Sultan Ali al-Mashhad

Published References
  • Glenn D. Lowry, Milo Cleveland Beach, Elisabeth West FitzHugh, Susan Nemanzee, Janet Snyder. An Annotated and Illustrated Checklist of the Vever Collection. Washington and Seattle. cat. 434, pp. 353-354.
Collection Area(s)
Arts of the Islamic World
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
SI Usage Statement

Usage Conditions Apply

There are restrictions for re-using this image. 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 Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery welcome information that would augment or clarify the ownership history of objects in their collections.

citation | Save this image How to download an image | Request Permission | Terms of Use