Arts of the Islamic World & India including Fine Rugs and Carpets

View full screen - View 1 of Lot 137. Vahshi Baqfi, Farhad wa Shirin, copied by Muhammad Hakim al-Husayni, paintings attributed to Muhammad Qasim, Persia, Mashhad, Safavid, dated 1046 AH/1636-37 AD.

Vahshi Baqfi, Farhad wa Shirin, copied by Muhammad Hakim al-Husayni, paintings attributed to Muhammad Qasim, Persia, Mashhad, Safavid, dated 1046 AH/1636-37 AD

Auction Closed

October 27, 03:41 PM GMT

Estimate

26,000 - 35,000 GBP

Lot Details

Description

Persian manuscript on gold-sprinkled paper, 52 leaves plus 3 fly-leaves, 11 lines to the page, written in nasta'liq script in black ink within 2 columns, margins ruled in colours and gold, catchwords, opening leaf remargined with later illuminated headpiece, comprising 4 miniatures in gouache heightened with gold, brown morocco binding with large panels of 18th century Persian floral brocade

23.2 by 13.6cm.

Please note additional provenance details for this lot: Sotheby's London, 'The Property of the Hagop Kevorkian Fund', 3 April 1978, lot 170. // Please note that there may be restrictions on the import of property of Iranian origin into the USA and some or all member countries of the Gulf Co-Operation Council. Any buyers planning to import property of Iranian origin into any of these countries should satisfy themselves of the relevant import regime. Replica Shoes 's will not assist buyers with the shipment of such items into countries of the Gulf Co-Operation Council. In addition, Fedex and US courier services will no longer carry Iranian-origin goods to any location. Any shipment services would need to be provided by a Replica Handbags shipping company.

Sotheby’s London, 1 February 1960, lot 217.

Sotheby's London, 'The Property of the Hagop Kevorkian Fund', 3 April 1978, lot 170.

Sotheby’s London, 9 October 1979, lot 266.

Sotheby’s London, 17 October 1983, lot 186.

Ex-collection Jafar Ghazi, Munich, (d.2007).

Sotheby's London, 19 October 2016, lot 138.

This manuscript was commissioned by Qarajaghay Khan (Qarachaqay), governor of Mashhad most probably under the Safavid rulers Shah 'Abbas II (r.1642-66) and Shah Safi II (r.1666-94). It was copied by the scribe Muhammad Hakim al-Husayni for his library in 1046 AH/1636-37 AD.

Muhammad Hakim al-Husayni was a seventeenth century nasta'liq calligrapher, whose recorded works include the Shahnameh at the Windsor Royal Library dated Rabi’ II 1058 AH/April-May 1649 AD) (Robinson and Sims, 2007); a Haft Paykar dated 1036 AH/1626 AD (sold in these rooms, October 1981, lot 241); a Mu’ammiat Husayni, dated 1034 AH/1625 AD, in the Library of the Uzbekistan, Academy of Sciences (Tashkent, no.4637 (2993); Robinson, 1968, p.133, footnote 1) and Ghurar wa durar, dated 1040 AH/1630-31 AD, in the Gulistan Palace Library, Tehran (Bayani, 1348 sh, p.711).

The four miniature paintings listed below have been attributed by both I. Stchoukine and B.W. Robinson to Muhammad Qasim (see Stchoukine, 1964, p.151, pl.LXVII and Robinson op.cit., pp.133-8, and pls.20-35).

The miniatures are as follows:
1. Farhad conversing with an old man (f.23a).
2. Shirin and her maids standing beside a stream (f.35a).
3. Fruit offered to Shirin with Farhad in attendance (f.46a).
4. The meeting of Shirin and Farhad (f.50a).