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Collection of Poems
(Manuscripts and Rare Books, Islamic World , Islamic Manuscripts)
This illuminated and illustrated manuscript, Walters manuscript W.623, contains the Khamsah (quintet) and two historical poems (masnavi), Qiran-i sa'dayn and Nuh sipihr, by Amir Khusraw Dihlavi (died 725 AH/AD 1325). The codex is dated 1017 AH/AD 1609 and was produced in Safavid Iran. All texts are written in black Nasta'liq 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 Dihlavi (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 Qiran-i sa'dayn, a historical poem (masnavi) about the meeting of Sultan Mu'izz al-Din Kayqubad and his father, Nasir al-Din Bughra Khan, on the banks of the Sarju 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 Qu?b al-Din Mubarak Shah Khalji's time, introduced with an illuminated incipit and headpiece (fol. 223b). The dark brown leather binding is original to the manuscript.
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object.
Ibn Abi Husayn 'Ali [...] 'Ali, [date and mode of acquisition unknown] [ownsership statement plus seal on fol. 1a]; Henry Walters, Baltimore [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
Geographies
Iran (Place of Origin)
Measurements
Folio H: 13 9/16 x W: 8 11/16 in. (34.5 x 22 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.623
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