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Tuhfat al-ahrar (Gift of the free) by Jami (d. 1492)

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At A Glance

Period

1558 (966 A.H.)
Geography

Bukhara, probably Uzbekistan
Material

Ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper
Dimension

H x W (closed): 20.7 x 13.9 cm (8 1/8 x 5 1/2 in)
Accession Number

S1986.40
EDAN ID

edanmdm:fsg_S1986.40

Object Details

Calligrapher

Baba Mirak al-Katib al-Tashkandi
Description

Manuscript; Tuhfat al-ahrar (Gift of the free) by Jami; Persian in black, gold and white nasta'liq script; 59 folios with a sarlawh (folio2 verso), three paintings (fols.1 recto,2 verso, 25 recto), dated colophon (folio 59 recto); seals (fols.1 recto and 59 recto); inscriptions (folio1 recto); standard page: 2 columns, 14 lines of text.

Binding: The manuscript was in a lacquer-painted binding, the binding has been removed, the manuscript is now bound in leather over paper pasteboards stamped with the name of Vever.
Inscriptions

Fol.1 recto: "This Tuhfat al-ahrar of Mulla Abd al-Rahman Jami entered the library of his gracious highness the prince, the most glorious, the great Na'ib al-Sultana. May God prolong his life and glory... during the year [A.H.] 1260 [A.D. 1844-45]. One thousand two hundred and sixty of the Hegira, prayer upon his pure descendants. Written by Riza-Quli, the servant of his majesty."

Fol. 59 recto: "the book was finished at the end of the holy month of Muharram in the year [A.H.] 966 [A.D. November 1558] by the hand of the poor sinful Baba Mirak al-Katib al-Tashkandi. May God forgive his sins and disregard his faults.

Seals: square, fol. 1 recto: from the God of both worlds, gift of Mustafa Haravi [A.H.] 1180 [A.D. 1766-67]; oval (illegible), square, fol. 59 recto: from the God of both worlds, gift of Mustafa Haravi [?].

First page: H. V. apxxx fsxxx, written in pencil

First page: Vig. es., written in pencil

First page: Vever (underlined), 3 miniatures, date 966 -- 1558, Baba Mirack calligraphe, relieur du XVI e, written in pencil

First page: 94 V, written in pencil

Affixed to first page: round white sticker, 10, written in pencil

Affixed to first page: round white sticker, 3, written in pencil,

First page: H. Vever, written in pencil

First page: 1, written in pencil

Affixed to first page: square sticker, printed in black, International Exhibition of Persian Art London 1931, VV 3 written in black ink

First page: 41 (circled), written in pencil

Affixed to spine: sticker with illegible black ink

Affixed to spine: sticker with illegible black ink
Provenance

By 1912-no later than 1923

Tony Smet (1872-1923) and Mathilde (Micard) Smet (1881-1957), method of acquisition unknown [1]

Possibly by 1923-?

Mathilde (Micard) Smet, by inheritance [2]

By 1931-1942

Henri Vever (1854-1942), purchased from Tony and Mathilde Smet or Mathilde Smet after death of her husband [3]

1942-1947

Jeanne Louise Monthiers (1861-1947), bequest of Henri Vever [4]

1947-1986

Francois Mautin (1907-2003), bequest of Jeanne Louise Monthiers and Henri Vever [5]

From 1986

Arthur M. Sackler Gallery purchased from Francois Mautin [6]

Notes:

[1] Octave Antoine Tony Smet, known as "Tony" was the Maître des requêtes to the French Conseil d'État, a prestigious judicial officer of administrative law. Smet was an early collector of Islamic works on paper, Chinese porcelains, and Japanese netsuke, amassing a significant collection in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Tony married Mathilde Juliette Micard on March 26, 1908. When this work was exhibited at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in 1912, both Tony and Mathilde Smet owned the work. See Georges Marteau and Henri Vever, "Miniatures Persanes" [exhibition catalogue] (Musée des Arts Décoratifs, June-October 1912), no. 89.

[2] Upon the death of Tony Smet, his wife Mathilde Smet inherited most of his collection. Her descendants auctioned this collection at Hôtel Drouot, Paris in 1967. See Hôtel Drouot "Art d'Extrême-Orient, Collection de Madame Tony Smet et a Divers Amateurs" [auction catalogue] (Paris, February 23-24, 1967).

[3] An accomplished French jeweler and collector, Henri Vever (1854-1942) 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 work was part of Vever's collection by 1931 and remained in Vever's collection at the time of his death. See "Catalogue of the International Exhibition of Persian Art" [exhibition catalogue] (Royal Academy of Arts, Burlington House, London, January 7 -- March 7, 1931), 724 F. See also International Exhibition of Persian Art sticker on the first page of the manuscript.

[4] 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.

[5] 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.

[6] 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.

Research updated June 5, 2023.
Collection

Arthur M. Sackler Collection
Exhibition History

The Art of Painting a Story: Narrative Images from Iran (December 22, 1991 to May 10, 1992)

A Jeweler's Eye: Islamic Arts of the Book from the Vever Collection (November 20, 1988 to April 30, 1989)

International Exhibition of Persian Art (January 7 to March 7, 1931)
Previous custodian or owner

Francois Mautin (1907-2003)

Jeanne Louise Monthiers (1861-1947)

Henri Vever (1854-1942)

Mathilde Micard Smet

Tony Smet
Origin

Bukhara, probably Uzbekistan
Credit Line

Purchase — Smithsonian Unrestricted Trust Funds, Smithsonian Collections Acquisition Program, and Dr. Arthur M. Sackler
Type

Manuscript
Restrictions and Rights

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