Page 42 - 2021 April 1, ART OF THE ISLAMIC AND Indian Worlds Including Oriental Rugs, Christie's London

AN IMPORTANT ROYAL ALBUM PAGE COPIED BY SULTAN ‘ALI MASHHADI

Recto

24
A CALLIGRAPHIC ALBUM PAGE
SIGNED SULTAN 'ALI MASHHADI, TIMURID OR EARLY SAFAVID
HERAT, CIRCA 1500-20
Persian manuscript on paper, verso with 4ll. of elegant black nasta'liq in clouds
reserved against a hatched ground decorated with meandering floral vine,
lower left corner signed Sultan 'Ali Mashhadi / dar al-sultana Herat, 2ll. of
black nasta'liq below, a line of of large gold-speckled black thuluth in a cloud
reserved against a gold and polychrome illuminated ground to the left, gold-
speckled margins; recto with a line of large black thuluth in a cloud reserved
against a hatched ground, flanked above and below by a line of gold-speckled
black nasta'liq in clouds reserved against a gold and polychrome illuminated
ground, each corner with a gold and polychrome illuminated panel, gold
speckled margins, minor smudges and light creases
Text panel 7¡ x 4¡in. (18.6 x 11cm.); folio 12 x 8in. (30.3 x 20.1cm.)
£40,000-60,000 US$57,000-84,000
€47,000-69,000
PROVENANCE:
Private Collection, New England, USA, early 20th century
Private Collection, Massachusetts, USA, pre 1970, thence by descent
INSCRIPTIONS:
Verso: Verses from the Sharafnama section of the Khamsa of Nizami, followed
by the signature of Sultan ‘Ali Mashhadi in Dar al-Sultaneh Herat. Down the
Illuminated frontispiece signed by Sultan ‘Ali al-Mashhadi, Iran, c. 1500-20
left side are exercises on combinations of letters (mufradat)
Credit Line: Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Gift of John Goelet
Recto: In Arabic in large thulth, probably also from a mufradat compilation, “the © President and Fellows of Harvard College
letter shin with alif”. Above and below is a blessing for Muhammad and the Object Number: 1958.182.2
Imams up to Ja’far al-Sadiq

40 In addition to the hammer price, a Buyer’s Premium (plus VAT) is payable. Other taxes and/or an Artist Resale Royalty
fee are also payable if the lot has a tax or λ symbol. Check Section D of the Conditions of Sale at the back of this catalogue.