拍品 62
62
THE PROPERTY OF A NOBLEMAN
Firdousi: Shahnameh

细节
Firdousi: Shahnameh
Shiraz, circa 1570

the famous 'Book of Kings', Persian manuscript on buff paper, 551ff. as numbered, each with 25ll. of flowing black nasta'liq in four columns, gold, green and brown geometric or blue and gold floral illuminated intercolumnar divisions in blue or orange margins between black rules, blue, orange, green and gold margins between black rules, brown and blue outer rules, headings across two columns in white nasta'liq on gold and floral illluminated panels or cartouches in illuminated panels, some folios with the text written diagonally between gold and floral illuminated triangular panels, the majority of folios interleaved, (some smudging and staining, occasional small damages to edges and splits to margins, incomplete, unbound: folios in quires), opening bifolio with an illustrated frontispiece showing the court of Solomon within gold and polychrome illuminated margins (light creasing and rubbing, small damages and repairs to inner edge), faced by a fully illuminated page containing an inscription medallion with lines of white nasta'liq on gold and floral ground (light wear to edges), a similar illustrated folio of a hunting scene within illuminated margins at end (damages to edges, one tear), ff.2v.-12r. containing the introduction, the first bifolio of introductory text with gold and floral clouds between the lines and with gold painted scrolling palmette vine in the margins, ff.12v and 13r. similar and with illuminated heading, TWENTY-TWO CONTEMPORARY MINIATURES throughout the text finely painted in gouache heightened with gold, each one faced by a page of text with illuminated margins and gold clouds between the lines, (occasional light rubbing and wear, generally very good condition)
folio 17½ x 11½in. (44.5 x 29.1cm.)
text 11¼ x 7in. (28.6 x 17.8cm.)

拍品专文

The miniatures are probably the work of two or three different artists and are impressive examples of the Shiraz style at its best in the third quarter of the 16th century. There were originally 36 illustrations but thirteen have been dispersed. One of these, from the Collection of Edward Binney 3rd, exhibited in London in 1976, is now in the David Collection. See von Folsach, K.: Islamic Art, The David Collection, Copenhagen 1990, no.30, p.50; Colnaghi and Co, Persian and Mughal Art, no. 33 and Islamic Art from the Collection of Edward Binnet 3rd, Exhibition Catalogue, Washington 1966, no.40. Others are in museums in Chicago and Cleveland.

The miniatures are as follows:
1v. - Solomon enthroned
29r. - Garshasp's battle with Bahwi the Indian
35r. - Kawa the smith petitions king Zahhak
52v. - Zal appears before his father Sam
65v. - Zal arrives at the palace of of Rudaba
89v. - Kay Ka'us in his flying machine (cover illustration)
126v. - Murder of Siyawush
134v. - Kay Khusraw discovered by Giw
148r. - Farud shoots the horse of Giw
165r. - Defeat of the Persians by the Turanians in a night battle
174r. - Rustem shoots Ashkabus and his horse
185r. - Rustem drags the Khaqan of Chin from his elephant (illustrated)
196v. - Rustem slays the demon Akwan
213r. - Rustem rescues Bizhan from the pit
244r. - The armies of Kay Khusraw and Afrasiyab
251v. - Battle between Kay Khusraw and Afrasiyab
288v. - Zarir son of Luhrasp is slain by Bidarafsh
305r. - Isfandiyar taking the Brazen Hold
326v. - Rustem shoots Isfandiyar in the eye with an arrow
353v. - Darab placed on the throne by Humay (illustrated)
357r. - Iskandar comforting the dying Dara
439r. - Nushirwan and his army before the Roman fortress of Chand Dizh 480v. - Sawa Shah slain by Bahram Chubina
551r. - A royal hunt

Illustrated folios from a Khamseh of very similar style, date and quality were sold in these Rooms as lots 25-32, 18 October 1994.

We are grateful to B.W. Robinson for his help in the cataloguing of this lot.