A calligram album of ghubar script repeating the words of surah al-Ikhlas, ascribed to Ibrahim Zarin Galam, Persia, circa 1311-31 AH/1893-1913 AD

Babaie, Porter & Morris 2017, p. 38

This is an unusual album of calligrams (images made up of carefully arranged lines of calligraphy, also known as micrography). The style of calligraphy and calligrams is consciously lithography, which became widespread in Iran in the late nineteenth century. The text consist of the words of surah al-Ikhlas, the 112th chapter of the Qur’an, repeated continuously throughout the whole album. The images that the lines of calligraphy form include Imam 'Ali on the opening page, followed by three pages of medallions and cornerpieces (similar to the design of an illuminated page or bookinding) and four pages of floral designs. In addition, the second, third and firth pages contain small circular drawings of in the centre of the medallions depicting other revered Shi’a figures including Hassan, Husayn, and Abu’l Fazl (Al-Abbas ibn Ali), the sons of Imam 'Ali, and on page seven, the Prophet Muhammad riding Buraq.

The signature on the final page names the calligrapher Ibrahim Zarin Qalam, who is known from two other closely related works, both of which also imitate lithography and both of which are calligrams depicting Imam 'Ali (Harvard University Art Museums, 1963.90; Bonhams, London, 23 October 2018, lot 87). In the Harvard example the signature includes the words Danishpishah, which are also used here as part of the signature (“Ibrahim Danishpishah Zarin Qalam”), whereas the Bonhams example omits this part but adds “al-Shirazi”. The Harvard example is dated 1344 AH/1924-25 AD. In the present example the date is partly obscured under the gold and green lines of the margin rules, but based on the date of the Harvard example may read 1311 AH (1893-94 AD), 1321 AH (1903-04 AD) or 1331 AH (1913 AD).