Five Poems (Quintet)

Description Walters manuscript W.608 is an illuminated and illustrated copy of the Khamsah (quintet) by Nizami Ganjavi (died 605 AH/AD 1209), completed by Habib Allah ibn 'Ali ibn Husam in Safavid Iran in Rabi' II 971 AH/AD 1563. Illuminated titlepieces introduce the 5 poems, and there are 30 illustrations, the majority of which are attributable to 13th century AH/AD 19th Qajar Iran. Ownership notes and seals indicating the provenance of this manuscript are found throughout the codex (fols. 1a, 2a, 153a, 177a, 233a, 349a, and 351a). The binding is not original to the manuscript.

Provenance Baqi Pasha [date and mode of acquisition unknown] [ownership note fol. 1a]; 'Ali Riza ibn Mustafá, 1180 AH/AD 1766-1777 [mode of acquisition unknown] [ownership note with seal fol. 2a]; 'Ali Mawla 'Ali [date and mode of acquisition unknown] [seal impression fols. 153a, 177a, 233a, 351a]; Sahibi umm [mother of Mirza Ibrahim] [date and mode of acquisition unknown] [ownership note fol. 351b]; Shah Vardi Ghulam Shah Mardan [date and mode of acquisition unknown [seal impression fol. 349]; Henry Walters, Baltimore [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.

Credit Acquired by Henry Walters