Lot 63 - ENCHANTED TALES OF PERSIA-QAJAR- MINIATURE MANUSCRIPT

Origin: Persia (Iran) Period: Qajar Dynasty, c. 1830–1880 Medium: Hand-painted pigments and ink on manuscript paper Script: Persian Nastaliq Subject: Narrative miniature with courtly figures Frame: Gold-tone frame with blue mat PERIOD & PLACE OF PRODUCTION Place: Persia (modern-day Iran), likely Isfahan or Tehran Period: Qajar Dynasty, circa 1830–1880 Justification for attribution: Characteristic Qajar color palette, including saturated blues and terracotta Star-shaped ornamental medallion commonly seen in 19th-century Persian works Facial modelling, clothing shapes, and architectural elements typical of Qajar miniatures Dense diagonal Nastaliq script layout used in 18th–19th century manuscripts Natural paper ageing consistent with 19th-century handmade Persian rag paper This is an authentic Indo-Persian illuminated manuscript leaf featuring a finely painted miniature and Persian Nasta 'liq script. Based on the style, pigments, script, and page layout, the work most likely dates to the early–mid Qajar period, circa 1780–1850, with artistic traditions rooted in late Safavid and early Qajar Iran. The manuscript was almost certainly produced in Persia (Iran), likely in a major artistic centre such as Shiraz or Isfahan. The miniature is executed in opaque watercolor (gouache) with gold, depicting a courtly or literary narrative scene, including a royal or noble figure seated beneath a canopy in a boat, accompanied by attendants and decorative elements. This type of storytelling imagery is commonly associated with Persian poetic works such as those of Nizami, Sa'di, Jami, or the Shahnameh. The decorative floral medallion, bold color palette, simplified faces, and elongated figures are all characteristic of Iranian miniature painting of the 18th–19th century, rather than Mughal or Ottoman styles. The dense diagonal marginal commentary (hashiya) is a hallmark of Qajar-era scholastic manuscripts. The leaf is written in Persian Nasta'liq, the dominant literary script of Iran, and the paper tone and texture correspond to 19th-century Persian handmade laid paper. Most likely origin: Persia (Iran) Probable city: Shiraz or Isfahan Most likely period: Early–mid Qajar dynasty, c. 1780–1850