THREE DISPERSED CALLIGRAPHIC FOLIOS
Qajar Iran, 19th century

Comprising two folios from Sheikh Bahai’s Kitab Al-Falah, Persian manuscript on paper, the black naskh script reserved against gold interlinear cloud-bands, the opening folio with polychrome and gold illumination heading, and a broad margin of gold and polychrome scrolling trellis, laid on card, the second folio loose, with text both on the recto and verso, the text panel 17.5cm x 8.2cm, the folio 24cm x 13.3cm; and a folio from a hadith outlining the attributes of those who go to heaven, and those who go to the ‘fire’, 11ll. of black naskh script on paper, set against interlinear gold cloud-bands, within polychrome rules, and a card border with scrolling saz leaf meanders, signed by the scribe Muhammad Hadi, copied in tribute from Ala ud-Din Tabrizi (active during the reign of Shah Tahmasp, r. 1524 - 76), dated 1218 AH (1803 AD), the text panel 19cm x 12cm, the folio 29cm x 19cm.