Nizami, Khamsa, copied by ibn Husain Murad Ali Damavandi, with 29 illustrations Persia, dated Th...

Nizami, Khamsa , copied by ibn Husain Murad 'Ali Damavandi, with 29 illustrations Persia, dated Thursday, the beginning of Rabi' I 1061/23rd February 1651 Persian manuscript on paper, 303 leaves, 25 lines to the page written in nasta'liq script in black ink in four columns, coloured intercolumnar rules, inner margins ruled in blue and gold, headings written in red ink, opening illuminated headpiece, five further illuminated headpieces, 29 illustrations in gouache and gold, brown morocco with central lacquered medallions 370 x 220 mm. Footnotes: The scribe is not recorded, other than being listed as katibeh-negar (a scribe of inscriptions on monuments (see http://damavandfamous.blogfa.com, retrieved on 13 February 2022). The manuscript was in the library of the Qajar Prince Farhad Mirza (grandson of Fath 'Ali Shah and brother of Muhammad Shah), who wrote that it entered his library on 15th Shawwal 1298/10th September 1881. He gives his name as 'Farhad son of the Crown Prince' (i.e. 'Abbas Mirza). Another note, not written by Farhad Mirza, says that the manuscript was bought from Qizi in Shawwal 1298/1880-81. There is also a note by another owner:'Muhammad [...] in the capital Tehran. The oval seal impression of a certain 'Abdullah appears twice next to the colophon. The illustrations, it has been suggested, are by an artist in the school of Muhammad Zaman and his pupils, e.g. 'Ali Quli Jabbadar. The scene of four maidens picknicking is strikingly similar in terms of composition and dress to an illustration from a manuscript of Nizami's Khamsa , dated to the middle of Rajab 1071/March-April 1661, with illustrations close to the manner of Mu'in Mussavir, offered at Christie's Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds , 20th October 2016, lot 41 (illus.). This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: • R • Zero rated for VAT, no VAT will be added to the Hammer Price or the Buyer's Premium. R This lot is subject to import restrictions when shipped to the United States. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com