Two leaves from a Sharafnameh of Nizami: Iskander and the Chinese Slave Girl and Iskander over the body of Dara, attributed to Mu'in Musavvir, Persia, Safavid, circa 1660

gouache heightened with gold on paper, 13-18 lines to the page, written in black nasta'liq script in 4 columns, one leaf with heading in gold panel to reverse, each with 25 lines of text to reverse 

In generally good overall condition, minor losses to leaf edges, a few smudges and light stains, as viewed.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This illustrated leaf and lots 114 and 117 all belong to a now dispersed manuscript of Nizami's Sharafnameh, with lot 119 representing one of the illuminated frontispieces in the manuscript. The illustrations, though unsigned, all bear similarities to the work of Mu'in Musavvir, in the mid-seventeenth century. 

The gifted Mu'in, pupil of the master Reza-i 'Abbasi, was one of the most prolific artists of the later Safavid period. Born in 1617, Mu'in flourished for 72 years, producing single page drawings and paintings in addition to several complete manuscripts. As we can see in the present examples, the style is typically Persianate, a characteristic of Mu'in, at a time when many of his contemporaries became increasingly influenced by European prints. Comparable leaves from a Shahnameh produced at roughly the same time were sold in these rooms, 24 April 2013, lot 56 and 25 April 2012, lots 479 and 480. For more on the artist see S. Canby, Persian Painting, London, 1993, pp.110-112.