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← search Collection of poetry W.623
Manuscript Overview
References
Bindings & Oddities

Abstract

This illuminated and illustrated manuscript contains the Khamsah (quintet) and two historical poems (masnavi), Qirān-i saʿdayn and Nuh sipihr, by Amīr Khusraw Dihlavī (d. 725 AH / 1325 CE). The codex is dated 1017 AH / 1609 CE and was produced in Safavid Iran. All texts are written in black nastaʿlīq script with chapter headings in red. The manuscript opens with an illuminated and illustrated frontispiece of a hunting and court scene in the early Safavid style (fols. 1b-2a). The first text is Khamsah-i Dihlavī (fols. 2b-192a), which is introduced by an illuminated incipit and titlepiece with the title of the first poem of the quintet and the author's name. The second text is Qirān-i saʿdayn, a historical poem (masnavi) about the meeting of Sultan Muʿizz al-Dīn Kayqubād and his father, Nāṣir al-Din Bughrā Khān, on the banks of the Sarjū in Oudh. It is also introduced with an illuminated incipit and titlepiece (fol. 193b). The third text is Nuh sipihr, a historical poem (masnavi) describing the glories of Sultan Quṭb al-Dīn Mubārak Shāh Khaljī’s time, introduced with an illuminated incipit and headpiece (fol. 223b). The dark brown leather binding is original to the manuscript.

Hand note

Written in black nastaʿlīq script with chapter headings in red

Contributors

Principal cataloger: Gacek, Adam

Cataloger: Landau, Amy

Cataloger: Smith, Sita

Copy editor: Bockrath, Diane

Contributor: Barrera, Christina

Contributor: Emery, Doug

Contributor: Herbert, Lynley

Contributor: Noel, William

Contributor: Simpson, Shreve

Contributor: Tabritha, Ariel

Contributor: Toth, Michael B.

Contributor: Valle, Chiara

Conservator: Jewell, Stephanie

Conservator: Quandt, Abigail

Bibliography

Rieu, Charles. Catalogue of the Persian Manuscripts in the British Museum, Vol. 2. (London: British Museum, 1879-83), 611-612.


Seyller, John. Pearls of the Parrot of India: The Walters Art Museum Khamsa of Amīr Khusraw of Delhi. (Baltimore: Walters Art Museum, 2001), 155.


These are pages that we pulled aside that disrupted the flow of the manuscript reader. These may be bindings, inserts, bookmarks, and various other oddities.

Upper board outside

Lower board outside

Spine

Fore-edge

Head

Tail

Keywords
Persian
Illustration
Iran
Islamic
History
Literature -- Poetry
Safavid

Origin Place

Iran

Date

30 Ramaḍān -- 22 Dhū al-Ḥijjah 1017 AH / 1609 CE

Form

book

Binding

Original Binding

Binding Description

Dark brown leather (without flap); dentelle style with central ovals, pendants, cornerpieces, and frames decorated and brushed with gold

Language

The primary language in this manuscript is Persian.

Provenance

Ownership statement: Ibn Abī Ḥusayn ʿAlī [...] ʿAlī, plus seal

Acquisition

Walters Art Museum, 1931, by Henry Walters bequest

← search Collection of poetry W.623

Origin Place

Iran

Date

30 Ramaḍān -- 22 Dhū al-Ḥijjah 1017 AH / 1609 CE

Form

book

Language

The primary language in this manuscript is Persian.

Provenance

Ownership statement: Ibn Abī Ḥusayn ʿAlī [...] ʿAlī, plus seal

Acquisition

Walters Art Museum, 1931, by Henry Walters bequest

Manuscript Overview

Abstract

This illuminated and illustrated manuscript contains the Khamsah (quintet) and two historical poems (masnavi), Qirān-i saʿdayn and Nuh sipihr, by Amīr Khusraw Dihlavī (d. 725 AH / 1325 CE). The codex is dated 1017 AH / 1609 CE and was produced in Safavid Iran. All texts are written in black nastaʿlīq script with chapter headings in red. The manuscript opens with an illuminated and illustrated frontispiece of a hunting and court scene in the early Safavid style (fols. 1b-2a). The first text is Khamsah-i Dihlavī (fols. 2b-192a), which is introduced by an illuminated incipit and titlepiece with the title of the first poem of the quintet and the author's name. The second text is Qirān-i saʿdayn, a historical poem (masnavi) about the meeting of Sultan Muʿizz al-Dīn Kayqubād and his father, Nāṣir al-Din Bughrā Khān, on the banks of the Sarjū in Oudh. It is also introduced with an illuminated incipit and titlepiece (fol. 193b). The third text is Nuh sipihr, a historical poem (masnavi) describing the glories of Sultan Quṭb al-Dīn Mubārak Shāh Khaljī’s time, introduced with an illuminated incipit and headpiece (fol. 223b). The dark brown leather binding is original to the manuscript.

Hand note

Written in black nastaʿlīq script with chapter headings in red

References

Contributors

Principal cataloger: Gacek, Adam

Cataloger: Landau, Amy

Cataloger: Smith, Sita

Copy editor: Bockrath, Diane

Contributor: Barrera, Christina

Contributor: Emery, Doug

Contributor: Herbert, Lynley

Contributor: Noel, William

Contributor: Simpson, Shreve

Contributor: Tabritha, Ariel

Contributor: Toth, Michael B.

Contributor: Valle, Chiara

Conservator: Jewell, Stephanie

Conservator: Quandt, Abigail

Bibliography

Rieu, Charles. Catalogue of the Persian Manuscripts in the British Museum, Vol. 2. (London: British Museum, 1879-83), 611-612.


Seyller, John. Pearls of the Parrot of India: The Walters Art Museum Khamsa of Amīr Khusraw of Delhi. (Baltimore: Walters Art Museum, 2001), 155.


Bindings & Oddities

These are pages that we pulled aside that disrupted the flow of the manuscript reader. These may be bindings, inserts, bookmarks, and various other oddities.

Upper board outside

Lower board outside

Spine

Fore-edge

Head

Tail

Keywords
Persian
Illustration
Iran
Islamic
History
Literature -- Poetry
Safavid
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