SIGNED AMIR, MUGHAL INDIA, EARLY 17TH CENTURY

Originating in Greater Iran, the swirling colours and organic shapes of marbled paper became popular in Mughal India in the 16^th century. This was especially favoured for calligraphy, lending a decorative background to elegant nasta’liq verse.

Examples of nasta’liq on marbled paper attributed to 17^th century Mughal India can be found in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (1999.356 and 1986.109.2).