AN ILLUMINATED LOOSE FOLIO FROM THE SHARAFNAMA, THE FIRST SECTION OF THE ISKANDAR NAMA FROM NIZAMI’S KHAMSA
Safavid Iran, mid to late 17th century

Opaque pigments, ink and gold on paper, the text divided into 4 columns with 2ll. above and 2ll. below of black ink nasta'liq script, describing a celebratory party organised at the cosmopolitan court of the Chinese emperor in honour of Alexander the Great, the garden scene dominated by a flower-strewn gold ground, the enthroned kings with sumptuous golden headdressed with feathered aigrettes seated beneath elegant canopies, being entertained by Sogdian, Greek, Rumi, and Chinese musicians, and a Kashmiri dancer - description according to the text -, the male musicians wearing the Safavid taj, the female harpist in exotic headwear, a young saqi (cupbearer) seated in the centre, within gold and black rules, mounted, glazed and framed, the text panel 19.6cm x 10.5cm, 36cm x 25.7cm including the frame.