Lot 77
**Originally Listed At $250**
Central Asia, Kashmir, ca. late 18th to early 19th century CE. A group of three exquisitely scribed and decorated manuscript leaves, each a testament to the artistic refinement of Kashmiri calligraphers and illuminators working in the late 18th to early 19th century. The first, from the Koran, ca. 1810 CE, displays the elegance of the Naskh script in masterful form. Each line is heightened with gold, framed within superbly painted floral borders. Such leaves, likely produced for an important patron, reflect the Kashmiri tradition of manuscript art that rivaled even the celebrated calligraphic masterpieces of the earlier Safavid period. The second, from the Dala'il al-Khayrat (Prayers), late 18th century, preserves a fragment of what was once a splendid prayer book. Size of largest page (Koran): 3.6" W x 6" H (9.1 cm x 15.2 cm); of largest matte: 8.3" W x 10" H (21.1 cm x 25.4 cm)
Though incomplete, the interlinear bands of lavish gold cloud, the holy names of Allah picked out in red, and the delicate script combine to create an object of rare devotional and aesthetic appeal.
The third, dated ca. 1820, is from the Dewan of Hafez, the celebrated Persian poet Mohammed Shams-od-din Hafez (1325-1399). Revered as one of Persia's finest lyric voices, Hafez composed in the sophisticated "ghazal" style, weaving Sufi mysticism into lyrics of 6 to 15 couplets. This Kashmiri copy represents the pinnacle of local manuscript production, its elegant hand and floral illumination ranking among the most accomplished of the period.
Together, these pages represent three facets of Islamic manuscript culture - scripture, prayer, and poetry - each executed with a level of artistry that confirms Kashmir's reputation as one of the great centers of manuscript production in the early modern Islamic world.
Provenance: ex-T.F. Holy Lands collection, formed since the 1960s
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#196039
- Condition: Each set in a custom matte behind protective plastic film; have not been examined outside of film. Some light wrinkling and staining to pages, but, otherwise, all appear to be in good condition with clear text and lustrous gilding.
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| From: | To: | Increments: |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $299 | $25 |
| $300 | $999 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $1,999 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $4,999 | $250 |
| $5,000 + | $500 |