COLLECTION NAME:
Medieval Collection
Record
Image Number:
Bookreader Persian MS 36
Reference Number:
Persian MS 36
Parent Work Title:
Khamsa (Quintet)
Creator:
Nizami Ganjavi
Creator Role:
Author
Date Created:
1445 CE
Description:
Illustrated manuscript of the Khamsa (five poems) of Nizami Ganjavi. Original binding (rebacked, the spine lettered KHEM-SEH I NIZAMI) of dark reddish-brown leather with exquisitely tooled arabesque medallion and pendants, partly gilt, and narrow gilt frame. Doublures with medallion of fine bold cut-out work of brown leather on a background of blue, green and gold. On the upper margin of f. 3a is the seal of a former owner, Fath 'Ali b. Hidayat-allah, dated 1218/1803. Nineteen miniatures in the style associated with Shiraz. Ff. 3b, 4a exquisitely illuminated as a double title-page : headings of equally fine quality on ff. 29b (Khusraw u SHirin), 98b (Layla wa Majnun), 147b (Haft Paykar), 203b (Iskandar Nama) and 275b (Sharaf Nama), the lettering in elegant Kufic. In addition on ff. 29a, 202b, 203a, 275a and 314a blank spaces at the end of the poems are covered with geometrical diaper designs in gold and occasional touches of colour. On ff. 98a, 147a and 275a smaller spaces are filled with fine floral scrollwork in gold touched with colours. The copyist has appended a colophon to each of the poems but gives neither his name nor the place where the manuscript was produced. The dates are between November 1444 and May 1445.
Language Code:
per (Kufic)
Subject:
Epic poetry
Subject:
Persian poetry
Subject:
Persian literature
Category of Material:
Manuscripts
Sub-Category:
Codex
Sub-Category:
Miniatures (paintings)
Technique Used:
Handwriting
Medium:
Paint
Support:
Paper
Creation Site:
Iran: Shiraz
Style Period:
Timurid period
Style Period:
Shiraz style
Item Height:
Folio: 254 mm
Item Width:
Folio: 178 mm
Rights Holder - Image:
The University of Manchester Library, U.K.
Rights holder - Work:
The University of Manchester Library, U.K.
Access Rights:
References:
B.W. Robinson, 'Persian Paintings in the John Rylands Library' (1980)
Date Captured (yyyy-mm-dd):
2015-09-10
Image Creation Technique:
Digital capture by Heritage Imaging, The University of Manchester Library
Date Image Added (yyyy-mm):
2015-09
Metadata Language:
eng-GB