A Rare Safavid calligraphic Panel signed by Shah Mahmud [Al-Nishapuri], Persia, 16th century

Persian manuscript on paper, 10 lines to the page written horizontally and diagonally in minute and elegant nasta'liq script in black ink, 6 triangular corner panels decorated with polychrome floral motifs, the outer panel ground filled with scrolling gold vines, headed with a fine triangular device filled with interlacing split palmettes, laid down on card with an outer border of Qajar illumination

In good overall condition, some small areas of abrasion at the bottom of the panel, a few mild stains, otherwise colours and gold brights, as viewed.
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inscriptions
signed in the lower left corner triangle:
katabahu al-'abd shah mahmud al-nishapuri

Persian poem by Mawlana Badr Al-Din Chaghatayi Astarabadi (Hilali, d.1529):

'Oh you, the divine light... You approach from the face of our beloved into our eyes. Your life-giving smell comes hand to hand with the morning wind. That's why morning wind brings me to life, like the breath of Jesus. I beg you and hear bitter words from you. I continue because I am good at nothing but begging you. All beauties became dust under your feet. It is such a pity that you couldn't even pick that dust up. Alas! The teacher who had taught you literature, hasn't taught you the word 'loyalty'.'

Shah Mahmud al-Nishapuri (d.1564) 
Shah Mahmud (also known as Zarrin Qalam, 'golden pen') is thought to have been Shah Isma'il's (d.1524) favourite calligrapher. He was born in the city of Nishapur, Iran, and studied calligraphy under the supervision of Abdi al-Katib Nishapuri. He specialised in the style of nasta'liq with the famous nasta'liq master Sultan Ali Al-Mashhadi (d.1519). Shah Isma'il adored him so much that, on his campaign over Ottoman Sultan Selim I, he locked up Shah Mahmud and painter Behzad, fearing that they could be kidnapped by the Ottomans. On his return, the first thing he did was visit Shah Mahmud (see S. Rado, Turk Hattatlari, Istanbul, 1980, p.67). The famous Khamsa, produced for Shah Tahmasp (d.1576), illuminated by the famous court painter Behzad, was copied by Shah Mahmud. Celebrated as one of the greatest masters of nasta'liq script, Shah Mahmud's works have been collected by royal bibliophiles across the Muslim world. It has been noted that particularly members of the Ottoman elite adored him. A magnificent Qur'an manuscript by him, transcribed in nasta'liq, can be found in the Topkapi Palace. See also Serin, Muhittin, Hat Sanatı ve Meshur Hattatlar, Kubbealti, Istanbul, 1999.