Object Details
Description
Manuscript; Kitab al-khamsa (Book of five poems) by Jami; text: Persian in black nasta'liq script with illuminated headings; 213 folios with a double-page frontispiece (fols. 1 verso, 2 recto), 4 sarlawhs (fols. 27 verso, 70 verso,127 verso,180 verso), and dated colophons (fols. 27 recto, 70 recto, 127 recto, 180 recto, 213 recto); standard page: 4 columns, 19 lines of text.
Binding: The manuscript is bound in leather over paper pasteboards with gold block-stamped exterior covers and doublures of gold leather filigree over a multicolored paper ground. The envelope flap has a border and surface identical to that on the exterior cover.
Inscriptions
Colophon for first book (Folio 27, recto):
"and to God be praise...
and peace on Muhammad
and to his servants glory
and peace of abundant
blessings. I have written
it in the months of the year
nine hundred and fifty-five."
70 recto:
Subhatu'l-abrar
"written in the third month
Dhu'l-qa'da the year nine hundred
and fifty-five."
127 recto:
Yusuf u Zulaykha
"written in the eighth month Dhu'l-
hijja the year nine hundred
and fifty-five."
180 recto:
Layla va Majnun
"written in the month Muharram
al haram the year nine hundred
and fifty-six the year of the
Prophet."
213 recto:
Khirad-nama-i-Sikandari (The Book of the wisdom of Alexander).
"Written in the month Safar
finished in the year nine
hundred and fifty-six
the year of the Prophet peace
the year of the Prophet peace
Provenance
To 1907
Bernard Alfred Quaritch, London, to 1907 [1]
From 1907 to 1919
Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Bernard Alfred Quaritch in 1907 [2]
From 1920
Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [3]
Notes:
[1] See Original Purchase List of Persian Manuscripts and Miniatures, pgs. 104-105, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives.
[2] See note 1.
[3] The original deed of Charles Lang Freer's gift was signed in 1906. The collection was received in 1920 upon the completion of the Freer Gallery.
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art Collection
Exhibition History
Art of the Court of Shah Tahmasp (December 16, 1979 to August 14, 1980)
Previous custodian or owner
Bernard Alfred Quaritch (1870-1913) (C.L. Freer source)
Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)
Credit Line
Gift of Charles Lang Freer
Date
1548-1549 (955-956 A.H.)
Period
Safavid period
Accession Number
F1907.160
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Type
Manuscript
Medium
Ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper
Dimensions
H x W (overall): 28.2 x 18.1 cm (11 1/8 x 7 1/8 in)
Origin
Iran
Related Online Resources
Google Arts & Culture
See more items in
National Museum of Asian Art
Data Source
National Museum of Asian Art
Topic
Safavid period (1501 - 1722)
Khamsa
nasta'liq script
illumination
Iran
Arts of the Islamic World
Charles Lang Freer collection
Link to Original Record
Record ID
fsg_F1907.160