Illustrated Manuscript of Layla and Majnun by Nizami
1470
Description
The manuscript opens with an illuminated sarlawh which consists of an original cartouche right above the text and a later addition on top of that. The original illuminated rectangular bears Timurid arabesque vines and the top part seems to be an Indian replacement. The decorated margin of the frontispiece is probably Indian as well. The text panels have been remounted onto new margins. The illuminated sarlawh and the interlinear gilding in the frontispiece were very likely added at the same time as the folios were remargined and repaired. The text is copied in nastaʿlīq script, in 11 lines and two columns to a page. According to the colophon the manuscript was copied by Rafī‘ al-Din b. ‘Ali al- Kashani al-Ghaffari for Sultan Mahmud Mirza (c.1453-1495, the Timurid prince, and son of Abu Sa‘id Gurkan). The manuscript is foliated and contains 89 folios (including 5 flyleaves). The two illustrations appear on ff. 9r and 24v. The first depicts the ascent of the Prophet Muhammad into the heavens. The second illustration shows Layla and Majnun at school. The reddish-brown leather binding has an inlaid stamped center with pendants and corner pieces on the covers. The inside-covers are plain in light burgundy leather. The binding is a later replacement. The later binding and decorations probably date to the late 18th century India.
Dimensions
22 x 14.5 x 1.9 cm (8 11/16 x 5 11/16 x 3/4 in.)
Provenance
Ezzat-Malek Soudavar, Geneva, Switzerland (by 2014), by descent; to her son Abolala Soudavar, Houston, Texas (2014), loan; to Harvard Art Museums, 2015. 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.
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