ManuscriptsPersian19th century

Manuscript of Du'a-yi Davazdah Imam (The Prayer of Twelve Imams) by Khwaja Nasir al-Din Tusi, and other prayers

1836

Description

The manuscript contains 18 folios (including two flyleaves) and opens with an illuminated sarlawh. The text is copied in large naskh, 12 lines to a page. All text folios are decorated with gold floral motifs in the margins and interlinear gilding. The name of God is written in gold throughout the text. The manuscript was penned by Ahmad Shamlu in 1252/1836 according to the colophon. Ahmad b. Muhammad Husayn Shamlu Mashhadi (d. 1267/1848, Mashhad) was a prolific scribe, who was also the calligraphy tutor of Fath Ali Shah’s son. The binding is made of light brown wood with a leather spine. The covers are intricately carved with flowers, two birds and a butterfly. The inside covers are plain wood painted in golden shades.

Classification

Manuscripts

Medium

Ink, colors, and gold on paper; wooden binding

Culture

Persian

Period

Qajar period

Century

19th century

Division

Asian and Mediterranean Art

Department

Department of Islamic & Later Indian Art

Dimensions

19 x 12 cm (7 1/2 x 4 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.