Collection Items
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Manuscript/Mixed MaterialBihari Qur'an Interlinear Qur'an, Arabic with Persian interpretation. Most Qur'ans written in bihari script make us of strong orange or red and blue colors for illuminated motifs, as well as for the main body of the text. This particular fragment repeats lines of script in the following manner: one line of gold, two lines of black, one line of blue, two lines of black, one line…- Date: 14??
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Manuscript/Mixed MaterialInterlinear Qur'an (Surat al-Nisa') A further sense of antiquity appears in the gold surah heading in Kufi at the top of the left folio. It harks back to earlier decorative ornaments and illumination present in Qur'ans of the 'Abbasid period (Déroche 1992). The paper is cream-colored, and the ink on the verso shows through to the recto. An effaced gold and blue ayah marker appears in the right…- Date: 1250
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Manuscript/Mixed MaterialFal-i Qur'an (divination by the Qur'an) Safavid Iranian Fortune Readings in Persian based on the Qur'an. Although divination by the Qur'an appears largely in a Safavid Shi'ite context, other examples of fals by means of the Qur'an entitled "Fi tafa'ul min kalam Allah al-majid" (on divination by means of Allah's glorious words) and "dar fal-i mushaf" (on divination by the Book) also appear in Sunni Ottoman artistic traditions during the…- Date: 1550
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Manuscript/Mixed MaterialInterlinear Qur'an (5: 89-95) Qajar Iranian Interlinear Qur'an, Arabic with Persian interpretation. Although not as refined as some Persian interlinear Qur'ans made for Safavid rulers (Bayani et al 1999: 138-45, cat. no. 45), this fragment reveals the extent to which the practice of translation in Persian and other non-Arabic languages became an integral part of the program of Qur'anic production. For instance, many Qur'ans from Kashmir nearly contemporary…- Date: 1792
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Manuscript/Mixed MaterialAnonymous Arabic and Persian poetic verses Arabic and Persian verses of poems in nasta'liq script. Dimensions of Written Surface: (including outside panels) 21.3 (w) x 30 (h) cm Do not deprive me, / My God and Lord, / Of his great intercession, / For he is the only intercessor. If you forgive me / Your forgiveness will save me / Otherwise I am damned / By the perishing sin. My… -
Manuscript/Mixed MaterialIlluminated frontispiece A typical 16th century Persianate frontispieces made for a Qur'an, from Herat, present day Afghanistan. Illuminators during the first half of the 16th century experimented with the double-page illuminated frontispiece. For example, the artist Shaykhzadah began using black backgrounds and invented new arabesque or scrollwork motifs. These motifs not only appeared in frontispieces, but were used as architectural ornamentation in manuscript paintings (Soudavar 1992:…- Date: 15??
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Manuscript/Mixed MaterialQur'anic verses Qur'anic verses, Arabic text is Tawqi' script and Persian translations are in Persian naskh. And how will God guide those who reject faith / After they accepted it and bore witness / That the Messenger was true / And that clear signs had come to them? / God does not guide unjust people. Between each horizontal line of Arabic text appear diagonal word-by-word translations…- Date: 13??
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Manuscript/Mixed MaterialQur'anic verses Plaited eastern Kufi and Persian Naskh scripts. Dimensions of Written Surface: 20.2 (w) x 10.7 (h) cm Eastern Kufi and Persian naskh scripts are typical calligraphies practiced in Persian lands between the 11th and the 13th centuries. It is rather rare to find eastern Kufi interlaced, as the script tends to incline at an angle. Nevertheless, its high verticals (or stems) leave ample room…- Date: 10??
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Manuscript/Mixed MaterialBeginning of Nizami's "Iqbalnamah" Nizami's "Iqbalnamah" from the Khamsah, Shirazi style Safavid Persian illuminated manuscript in Nasta'liq script. Dimensions of Written Surface: Recto: 12.1 (w) x 21 (h) cm Nine other folios from the same manuscript --mostly initial and terminal folios of the various books (kitab) from the "Khamsah" as well as one painting from the story of Laylah wa Majnun -- are held in the Library of…- Date: 15??
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Manuscript/Mixed MaterialColophon of Nizami's "Sharafnamah"; title page of Nizami's "Iqbalnamah" Colophon of Nizami's "Sharafnamah" title page of Nizami's "Iqbalnamah"from the Khamsah, Shirazi style Safavid Persian illuminated manuscript in Nasta'liq script. Dimensions of Written Surface: Recto: 12.2 (w) x 14 (h) cm. Dimensions of Written Surface: Verso: 12 (w) x 21 (h) cm. Nine other folios from the same manuscript --mostly initial and terminal folios of the various books (kitab) from the "Khamsah", as well…- Date: 15??
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Manuscript/Mixed MaterialColophon of "Makhzan al-Asrar"; title page of "Khusraw va Shirin" Colophon of "Makhzan al-Asrar"; title page of "Khusraw va Shirin" from the Nizami's Khamsah, Shirazi style Safavid Persian illuminated manuscript in Nasta'liq script. Dimensions of Written Surface: Recto:12.1 (w) x 14.9 (h) cm. Dimensions of Written Surface: Verso: 12 9 (w) x 21 (h) cm Nine other folios from the same manuscript --mostly initial and terminal folios of the various books (kitab) from the…- Date: 15??
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Manuscript/Mixed MaterialBeginning of "Khusraw va Shirin" "Khusraw va Shirin" from the Nizami's Khamsah, Shirazi style Safavid Persian illuminated manuscript in Nasta'liq script. At the beginning of each book (kitab) of the "Khamsah", the author praises God and His Unity (typically entitled dar tawhid, or "On Unity"). This first section is then followed, as seen on this folio, by examining the proof (istidlal) of God's presence and praising the Exalted Creator…- Date: 15??
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Manuscript/Mixed MaterialThe fainting of Laylah and Majnun The fainting of Laylah and Majnun, from the Nizami's Khamsah, Shirazi style Safavid Persian illuminated manuscript in Nasta'liq script. Dimensions of Painting: Recto: 12.2 (w) x 16.7 (h) cm. Dimensions of Written Surface: 12.2 (w) x 20.9 (h) cm For an English translation of Nizami's story of Laylah and Majnun, see R. Gelpke (trans./ed.), "Nizami: The Story of Layla and Majnun" (London, 1966) and…- Date: 15??
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Manuscript/Mixed MaterialSiyah Mashq Qajar era Siyah Mashq Calligraphy based on Nasta'liq script 19th cent. Shekastah (Broken) Script. A number of other siyah mashq sheets are held in the Library of Congress. See in particular 1-87-154.45, 1-84-154.46, 1-85-154.88, 1-87-154.142, and 1-86-154.144. As an established genre, practice sheets abided to certain rules of formal compositions, largely guided by rhythm and repetition (Safwat 1996, 32). Although siyah mashq sheets survive…- Date: 18??
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Manuscript/Mixed MaterialSiyah Mashq Qajar era Siyah Mashq Calligraphy based on Nasta'liq script 19th cent. Shekastah (Broken) Script. A number of other siyah mashq sheets are held in the Library of Congress. See in particular 1-84-154.44, 1-85-154.88, 1-87-154.142, and 1-86-154.144. As an established genre, practice sheets abided to certain rules of formal compositions, largely guided by rhythm and repetition (Safwat 1996, 32). Although siyah mashq sheets survive from…- Date: 18??
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Manuscript/Mixed MaterialSiyah Mashq Qajar era Siyah Mashq Calligraphy based on Nasta'liq script 19th cent. Shekastah (Broken) Script. A number of other siyah mashq sheets are held in the Library of Congress. See in particular 1-84-154.44, 1-87-154.45, 1-84-154.46, 1-87-154.142, and 1-86-154.144. As an established genre, practice sheets abided to certain rules of formal compositions, largely guided by rhythm and repetition (Safwat 1996, 32). Although siyah mashq sheets survive…- Date: 18??
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Manuscript/Mixed MaterialSiyah Mashq Qajar era Siyah Mashq Calligraphy based on Nasta'liq script 19th cent. Shekastah (Broken) Script. A number of other siyah mashq sheets are held in the Library of Congress. See in particular 1-84-154.44, 1-87-154.45, 1-84-154.46, 1-85-154.88, 1-87-154.142. A number of siyah mashq sheets executed at the turn of the 17th century by the great Iranian master of nasta'liq script, 'Imad al-Hasani (d. 1024/1615), were decorated…- Date: 16??
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Manuscript/Mixed MaterialSiyah Mashq Qajar era Siyah Mashq Calligraphy based on Nasta'liq script 19th cent. Shekastah (Broken) Script. A number of other siyah mashq sheets are held in the Library of Congress. See in particular 1-84-154.44, 1-87-154.45, 1-84-154.46, 1-85-154.88, and 1-86-154.144. As an established genre, practice sheets abided to certain rules of formal compositions, largely guided by rhythm and repetition (Safwat 1996, 32). Although siyah mashq sheets survive…- Date: 18??
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Manuscript/Mixed MaterialSiyah Mashq A number of other siyah mashq sheets are held in the Library of Congress. See in particular 1-84-154.44, 1-85-154.88, 1-87-154.142, and 1-86-154.144. As an established genre, practice sheets abided to certain rules of formal compositions, largely guided by rhythm and repetition (Safwat 1996, 32). Although siyah mashq sheets survive from ca. 1600, they seem to have been a particularly popular genre during the second…- Date: 18??
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Manuscript/Mixed MaterialBal'ami's Persian translation of al-Tabari's "Ta'rikh" Persian Naskh script, a page from Bal'ami's Persian translation of al-Tabari's "Ta'rikh" from the Il-Khanid period from Persia/Central Asia. Bal'ami's Persian version of Tabari's "Ta'rikh" has been translated into French by Hermann Zotenberg: see "Chronique de Abou Djafar Mohammed-ben-Djarir-ben-Yezid Tabari, traduite sur la version persane d'Abou-Ali Mohammed Bel`ami, d'après les manuscrits de Paris, de Gotha, de Londres et de Canterbury" (Paris: Imprimerie Impériale, 1867-1874).…- Date: 12??
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Manuscript/Mixed MaterialSa'di's "Gulistan" (The Rose Garden) Shirazi style Safavid Persian illuminated manuscript in Nasta'liq. At the very bottom of the text frame appears a barely legible square seal impression. Some of the decipherable words in the impression include hamid ("the praised"), 'azim ("the great"), and 'abduhu ("his servant"). Dimensions of Written Surface: 9.4 (w) x 7.3 (h) cm Reader! For him who wrote this book, ask grace; / And let…- Date: 14??
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Manuscript/Mixed MaterialThe feast of Iskandar and Nushabah The feast of Iskandar and Nushabah, from Nizami's "Iskandarnamah" (The Book of Alexander the Great), part of the "Khamsah" (Quintet) and Shirazi style Safavid Persian illuminated manuscript in Nasta'liq script. Another painting from Nizami's "Khamsah" is also held in the collections of the Library of Congress (see 1-86-154.123). Dimensions of Painting: 18.6 (w) x 22.8 (h) cm. Dimensions of Written Surface: 13.7 (w) x…- Date: 15??
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Manuscript/Mixed MaterialPoetic verses offering advice Safavid era Persian poetic verses offering advice, written in black Nasta'liq script tending towards shikastah (Shekasteh) script. Although the fragment is neither dated nor signed, the script and the fragility of the paper suggest that the text was executed in Iran or India during the 17th-18th centuries. Papers used at an earlier period were thicker and less prone to worm damage. Dimensions of Written…- Date: 16??
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Manuscript/Mixed MaterialFragmentary verses Calligraphic fragment with four verses of Persian poetry attributed to Safi al-Husayni in the 16th cent in the Nasta'liq script from India or Iran. [I want] to see your face again / Seeing your beauty... made my fortune / Hand... without end / [Their] presence made (my) heart and eye happy Bazam... didan-i ruyat... / Jamalat dida bakhtam... shud / Dast-i... bi-karana / Mujab-i…- Contributor: Safi Al-Husayni
- Date: 15??
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Manuscript/Mixed MaterialFragmentary poem of Hafiz (?) Safavid Persian calligraphy fragmentary with a poem by Hafiz, in the Nasta'liq script. Although the line of text may have been executed in Persia as early as the 15th or 16th century, the illuminated frames appear to have been added at a later date either for conservation purposes or to embellish a fragment intended for inclusion in an album of calligraphies. Di kaz bar-i…- Date: 14??