Pen Box with Scenes from the "Haft Paykar"
(Islamic World )
This pen box is adorned with scenes from one of the great classics of Persian literature: the Haft Paykar (Seven Images) by the medieval poet Nizami of Ganja (ca. 1141-1209). The central part of the Haft Paykar elaborates on a series of visits made by the pre-Islamic Sassanian king Bahram V Gur to the princesses of the seven climes, each of whom recounts an edifying story on kingly virtues, followed by the pleasures of feasting and love, as depicted here. In the central oval on the top of this pen box is the image of the Virgin Mary and infant Jesus.
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.
Acquired by Henry Walters, Baltimore; by bequest to Walters Art Museum, 1931.
Exhibitions
2015-2016 | Pearls on a String: Artists, Patrons, and Poets at the Great Islamic Courts. The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore; Asian Art Museum, San Francisco. |
2011 | The Art of Writing Instruments from Paris to Persia. |
2010 | Poetry and Prayer: Islamic Manuscripts from the Walters Art Museum. The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore. |
Geographies
Iran (Place of Origin)
Measurements
H: 1 9/16 × W: 9 3/16 × D: 1 5/8 in. (4 × 23.4 × 4.2 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.
67.3