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Abridgment of the Book of Kings (Shahnama)
(Islamic World , Manuscripts and Rare Books, Islamic Manuscripts)
Walters manuscript W.597 is an illuminated and illustrated copy of an abridgment of Firdawsi's Shahnamah (Book of kings) entitled Tarikh-i dilgusha-yi Shamshirkhani. It was composed in prose by Tavakkul Beg Husayni (active 11th century AH/AD 17th) for Shamshir Khan of Ghaznin (Ghazni or Ghaznah in present-day Afghanistan). Completed in the 13th century AH/AD 19th in India, possibly Lahore, the text is written in Nasta'liq script and illustrated by 33 paintings.
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object. Learn more about provenance at the Walters.
Hasan ibn 'Ali ibn Husayn Maraghi [known as Sani al-Dawlah] [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Nusrat Pasha Mushir, 18 Sha'ban 1303 AH/AD 1885, by gift [gift note from Hasan ibn 'Ali ibn Husayn Maraghi, known as Sani al-Dawlah, to Nusrat Pasha Mushir, 18 Sha'ban 1303 AH/AD 1885 on fol. 2a, left margin]; Henry Walters, Baltimore [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
Geographies
India (Place of Origin)
Measurements
Folio H: 13.0 x W: 8 1/16 in. (33.0 x 20.5 cm)
Credit Line
Acquired by Henry Walters
Location in Museum
Not on view
Accession Number
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
W.597