Arts of the Islamic World & India including Fine Rugs and Carpets
Arts of the Islamic World & India including Fine Rugs and Carpets
A Waqfnama written for Shah Sultan Husayn, attributable to Ahmad al-Nayrizi, Persia, Safavid, dated Rajab 1118 AH/October - November 1706 AD
Auction Closed
October 26, 12:30 PM GMT
Estimate
26,000 - 35,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
Persian manuscript on paper mounted on card in a concertina album, 12 leaves, plus two fly-leaves, 7 lines to the page written in fine naskh in black ink, keywords picked out in gold and red, ruled in gold, blue and black, opening two leaves with illuminated headpiece above text in clouds reserved against a gold ground, with gold floral illuminated margins, in cloth binding, paper doublures
40.3 by 27cm.
This Waqfnama was drawn up to legalise the endowment of private properties around the Bathhouse in Sa'adat Abad of Isfahan for the construction of a mosque. It was produced under Shah Sultan Husayn (r.1694-1722) whose name in given in gold in the upper margin of one of the folios. While he is not explicitly named as the donor, the blank line of the final folio was probably where his name as donor would have been given.
A closely comparable Waqfnama was sold in these rooms, 6 April 2011, lot 219, also made for Shah Sultan Husayn and signed by Ahmad al-Nayrizi, one of the most prolific scribes in late Safavid Iran, known for his distinctive naskh. The layout and masterfully fine script of this document is almost identical to that example and would suggest that the present Waqfnama was copied by the same master scribe.