Page 56 - ART OF THE ISLAMIC AND INDIAN WORLDS Carpets, Ceramics Objects, Christie's London Oct..27, 2022

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TWO FOLIOS FROM THE MAKHZAN AL-ASRAR OF NIZAMI WITH
ILLUMINATED AND ILLUSTRATED BORDERS
COMMISSIONED FOR SHAH DURAQ USTAJLU, THE MARGINS θ 44
SIGNED HASAN 'ALI AL-KATIB, SAFAVID HERAT, CIRCA 1522
JAMAL AL-DIN ABU MUHAMMAD
Persian manuscript on paper, each folio with 11ll. of black nasta'liq arranged Stylistic as well as codicological evidence suggests that these folios
in two columns on gold-flecked paper, within gold and polychrome rules, belonged to one manuscript. All the margins share similar waq-waqmotifs, NIZAMI: KHAMSA
headings in blue nasta'liq within gold and polychrome illuminated panels, drawn in gold ink on dyed paper. The cartouches are also stylistically close SAFAVID IRAN, DATED 12 RABI' II AH 1000/
each folio laid down within polychrome borders decorated with floral scrolls, 26 JANUARY 1592 AD
to one another, and contain a mixture of opaque-pigment figures – often
calligraphic cartouches and gold and polychrome illuminated figural and Persian manuscript on paper, 387ff. plus two The list of illustrations include:
musicians or angels – and gold-ink animals. This aesthetic is also shared by a
animal cartouches, both inner margins of one folio signed Hasan 'Ali al-Katib, flyleaves, each folio with 19ll. of black nasta’liq on f. 12v. : King Noushiravan, accompanied by his
further eight folios in the Chester Beatty Library, three from Jami’s Sulayman
the other with the name of the patron Shah Duraq Ustajlu gold flecked text panel arranged in four columns vizier, listens to two owls
wa Absal and five from his Subhat al-Abrar, which have very similar marginal
Text panel 5º x 3in. (13.5 x 7.4cm.); folio 10¡ x 6æin. (26.5 x 17cm.) (2) within gold and blue rules within red outer rule, f. 14r. : King Sanjar and the old woman
decoration. The Chester Beatty folios, together which the Makhzan al-Asrar headings in gold nasta’liq in central panels, with f. 46r : Khosraw discovers Shirin bathing
£12,000-18,000 US$14,000-21,000 manuscript from which the present lot was taken, may have all come from blue and gold illuminated headpieces introducing f. 54v : Khosraw singlehandedly kills the lion
€14,000-20,000
the library of Shah Duraq Ustajlu. each new chapter, with 13 illustrations, colophon during the feast
dated after chapter one, pages trimmed, in a f. 70r : Battle between Khosraw and Bahram and
These folios come from an important Makhzan al-Asrar manuscript, from gilt tooled black leather binding, the red leather flight of Bahram
which four unsigned folios are in the Cleveland Museum of Art (Glenn D. Biographical information about the patron is lacking, though judging from doublures with gilt découpé medallions on f. 88v : On the road to Mount Bistoun, Shirin’s
Lowry and Milo C. Beach, An Annotated And Illustrated Checklist Of The his name it is likely that he was part of the Turkoman Ustajlu tribe, a part of polychrome panels horse collapses and Farhâd carries her instead of
Vever Collection, Washington, 1990, p.232, nos. 261-264). Further folios from the Qizilbash coalition whose support brought Shah Isma’il I (r. 1501-24) to Text panel 7q x 4æin. (19.2 x 12.4cm.); the horse
this same manuscript were sold in these Rooms 26 April 2012, lot 30, and 28 power. The Ustajlu occupied important military and state offices throughout folio 10 x 6æin. (25.4 x 17.1cm.) f. 115r : Khosraw and Shirin’s wedding night
October 2021, lot 27. Through these three lots, a clearer picture has emerged the sixteenth century: Muhammad Khan Ustajlu died fighting at the Battle £40,000-60,000 US$46,000-69,000 f. 142r : The beggar brings Majnoun to Leyli’s tent
of the original manuscript. A note on the first lot, signed by a certain of Chaldiran in 1514, while in 1568 Shah-Quli Sultan Ustajlu, governor €46,000-68,000 f. 155r : Majnoun observes the battle of the clans
Muhammad Amin, allowed the manuscript to be dated to AH 929/1522-23 of Yerevan province, led an embassy to Edirne to congratulate Selim III f. 205v : Bahram gur kills two lions to save his
AD. The second lot revealed the place of production to be Herat, and while on his accession and present him with the Shahnama of Shah Tahmasp crown
one folio was signed by Muhammad al-Katib (likely the same person as (R. Mathee, ‘The Ottoman Safavid War of 986-998/1578-90’, Ankara, PROVENANCE: f. 215v : Bahram gur hosts the Indian princess in
Mes Rheims, Paris, Palais Galliera, 28 March 1968,
the black tent
Muhammad Amin), most were signed by Hasan ‘Ali al-Katib, indicating that 2004, p. 8). Even as they influenced the development of the Safavid state, no. 75 f. 270v : Iskandar fights Zang’s army
at least two artists had a hand in the manuscript. Signed by Hasan ‘Ali, these these folios attest to the contribution made by Qizilbash patrons to the Sotheby's France, Madame Djahanguir Riahi – Les f. 295v : Observing the paintings of the Chinese
folios are the most recent part of this manuscript to come to light. emerging Safavid aesthetic. Œuvres Que J’ai Aimées, 06 July 2017, lot 84 and the Roman artists
54 In addition to the hammer price, a Buyer’s Premium (plus VAT) is payable. Other taxes and/or an Artist Resale Royalty 55
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.