Manuscript of the Divan of Sa’di, with lacquer binding

Artists

Description

The manuscript opens with double illuminated text pages. The text is copied in nasta`liq script in two columns,15 lines to a page. The colophon on the last page of the manuscript provides the name of the patron, Mirza Muhammad Taqi Khan Mu'ayyad al-Mulk and copied in red ink, the name of the scribe, 'Ali Naqi al-Sharif al-Shirazi, and the date 1339 H. (1920-1921). The lacquer covers are signed by Mahmud Muzahhib-Bashi (Mahmud the Illuminator) dated 1340 H. (1921-1922). The outer covers are decorated with a large central medallion and corner pieces that are filled with flowering intertwining branches. The inner covers are decorated with a large iris painted in gold on dark brown.

Dimensions

24.4 × 16 × 3 cm (9 5/8 × 6 5/16 × 1 3/16 in.) Text area: 16.5 × 8.8 cm (6 1/2 × 3 7/16 in.)

Provenance

Ezzat-Malek Soudavar, Geneva, Switzerland (by 2014), by descent; to her son Abolala Soudavar, Houston, Texas (2014), gift; to Harvard Art Museums, 2014. Note: Ezzat-Malek Soudavar (1913-2014) formed this collection over a period of sixty years. She purchased the works of art on the international art market.