Click image to view full screen
Page from a Shah-nama (Book of Kings) of Firdausi (Persian, about 934–1020)
✓ Authenticity guarantee · ✓ Specialist condition report · ✓ Insured worldwide shipping · ✓ Private-room viewing
Begun at the end of the reign of Shah Ismail (reigned 1501–24), first king of the Safavid dynasty of Iran, this copy of the <em>Shah-nama</em> (Book of Kings) was completed during the reign of his son Shah Tahmasp. Unparalleled in scope and refinement, the book included 259 paintings by master artists in the royal workshop. Two calligraphers copied the text in an elegant, flowing <em>nasta‘liq</em> script. In 1568, Shah Tahmasp gave this book as a gift to the Ottoman sultan Selim II of Turkey.
| Artist / Maker | Mir Musavvir |
|---|---|
| Date | 1520–37 |
| Culture / Origin | Iran, Tabriz, Safavid period (1501-1722) |
| Medium | Gum tempera, ink, gold, and silver on paper |
| Dimensions | Sheet: 47.5 x 32.2 cm (18 11/16 x 12 11/16 in.); Text area: 28.4 x 18.5 cm (11 3/16 x 7 5/16 in.) |
| Department | Islamic Art |
| Type | Manuscript |
About the Artist
fl. 1520–1560, Tabriz & DelhiSafavid painter who later helped found the Mughal atelier. Full biography →
Provenance & Source
Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.
Condition
A detailed condition report and high-resolution photography are available from our specialists in advance of the sale.
Shipping & Collection
Fine-art shipping with climate control and full insurance to over 120 countries; collection by appointment.
Buying at Matchless Pieces
Register, verify your identity, and bid online or in a private room. Buyer’s premium and taxes are shown before you confirm.
