An illustrated and illuminated leaf from a manuscript of Firdausi's Shahnameh: The siege of the citadel of Afrasiyab by Kay Khusrau, Persia, Qazwin, Safavid, last quarter 16th century

gouache and ink heightened with gold on paper, 4 lines to the page above and below the painting, written in nasta'liq in black ink within 4 columns, a heading in red on a gold illuminated panel, ruled in gold, red and black, the reverse with 11 oblique and horizontal lines to the page in black nasta'liq

painting 27.4 by 19.6cm. max.

leaf 35.7 by 23.9cm.