ManuscriptsPersian19th century

Firman of Muhammad Shah Qajar

1835

Description

This firman (royal decree) is from Muhammad Shah Qajar (r. 1834-48). It is addressed to Mu`tamid al-Dawla, the governor of Isfahan; it transfers to Mirza Husayn Khan, the governor of Na’in, mountainside regions that had formerly been under the jurisdiction of Isfahan. The Hijri date Shawwal 1250 corresponds to February 1835, early in the reign of this monarch. The firman is written in nasta`liq, shikasta, and tughra’i scripts within gold cloud bands. The text rises at the end of each line on the left, a convention also found in Ottoman firmans. The five lines of text are interspersed with panels of interlacing serrated leaves in gold. The religious introductory formula is written in tughra’i script at the beginning of the text. On the right hand side is a wide panel of interlacing palmette scrolls in colors and gold. Muhammad Shah’s seal, enclosed by an illuminated quatrefoil motif, is placed in the upper center of the document. There are 11 seal endorsements on the back, some accompanied by signatures and/or inscriptions.

Classification

Manuscripts

Medium

Ink, colors, and gold on paper

Culture

Persian

Period

Qajar period

Century

19th century

Division

Asian and Mediterranean Art

Department

Department of Islamic & Later Indian Art

Dimensions

42 x 29 cm (16 9/16 x 11 7/16 in.)

Provenance

[Nader and Nader, New York, (2001-2002)] sold; to Layla Diba, New York (2002-14), gift; to Harvard Art Museums, 2014.

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