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Book of Kings (Shahnama)
(Manuscripts and Rare Books, Islamic World , Islamic Manuscripts)
Walters manuscript W.601 is an illuminated and illustrated Safavid copy of the Shahnamah (Book of kings) by Firdawsi (died 411 or 416 AH/AD 1020-1025), dated 1028 AH/AD 1618-1619. The text, which is incomplete, begins with the preface (dibachah), composed on the order of Baysunghur. It is written in black Nasta'liq script with chapter/section headings in red. The manuscript contains 14 illustrations that appear to be later additions and may have been executed in India or Iran. The black leather binding is modern.
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.
Henry Walters, Baltimore [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
Geographies
Iran (Place of Origin)
Measurements
Folio H: 10 1/4 x W: 6 1/2 in. (26 x 16.5 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.601
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