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Two folios of calligraphy from a dispersed Shi’ite manuscript

Mughal India, circa 1710

Persian manuscript on paper, the first with 18 lines of black nasta'liq within clouds on a pink ground, the reverse with 13 lines of black nasta'liq arranged in a boteh motif surrounded by poppies against a gold ground; the second folio with two panels of illumination between four lines of nasta'liq

11 7⁄8 by 7 in.; 30.3 by 17.7 cm. each, text panel
16 by 10 5⁄8 in.; 40.8 by 27 cm. folio

Provenance

Private collection, U.S.A. until 2022
 

These two calligraphic folios originate from an album, with paintings of unusual and sometimes extraordinary scenes, assembled in the early eighteenth century and distinguished by its fine pale pink paper borders with stencilled designs of animals and flowers. 

The first folio has a striking arrangement of thirteen lines of black nasta'liq in a boteh motif. This serrated leaf shape is surrounded by delicately-rendered vermillion and pale pink poppies on a solid gold ground. A margin of pink-tinted paper, decorated with floral designs drawn in faint black lines and coloured gold, frames the central rectangular panel. On the reverse are eighteen lines of nasta'liq within clouds on a pink ground; the same pink paper can be seen more clearly in the margin, embellished with a geometric floral pattern. The calligraphy on both sides is religious Shi'ite texts. The painting of the poppies surrounding the boteh motif is exceptionally well executed in the detail of the drawing and the overall composition and use of saturated colour. 

The second folio features rectangular panels containing panels of illumination between four lines of nasta'liq. The illuminated designs comprise gold arabesques with three lapis blue cartouches - a cusped lozenge-shaped one in the centre and two triangular cartouches along each vertical side. The margins on both sides are of pink-tinted paper with symmetrical gold floral designs.