A DECCANI CALLIGRAPHIC MURAQQA' ALBUM PAGE
PROPERTY FROM AN IMPORTANT EUROPEAN PRIVATE COLLECTION
Deccan, Central India, 17th century, signed Abdul Da'i Khoshnevis Khan Qutb Shahi

Persian manuscript on paper, with 4ll. of black ink nasta’liq script presenting a passage from a eulogising ruba’i in chalipa format, grouped in cloudbands against a ground of scrolling gold vegetal motifs reminiscent of saz leaves, the lower border with the signature of the calligrapher in blue cloudband against illuminated blue and gold vegetal trellis, set within a black border on pink paper, in a double mount, framed and glazed, the text panel 23.7cm x 15cm, the folio 40.3cm x 29cm.

The Qutb Shahis were a Persianate Shi'a dynasty of Turcoman origin ruling the Golconda Sultanate in the Northern Deccan plateau in the period from 1512 until 1687. Descendants of Qara Yusuf from the Qara Qoyunlu tribe of the Persian Hamadan province, they distinguished themselves as great patrons of the Persianate Shi'a arts and culture, introducing in India motifs and compositions in line with the contemporary creations of Safavid Iran.