TWO SIGNED PANELS OF SHIKASTEH NASTA’LIQ CALLIGRAPHY
Qajar Iran, 19th century

Persian manuscripts on paper, comprising a panel in red and black ink of fine poetic hemistichs mostly in diagonal format and opposing directions, the text reserved against gold cloud-bands, inscribed at the bottom in black naskh script ‘in the style of Muhammad Hossein Shamlu’, signed Ahmad Al-Mashhadi, dated Shawwal 1217 AH (1802 AD), within blue and silver-grey borders, and gold and black rules, mounted on buff paper, framed and glazed, the text panel 13.2cm x 7cm, 28cm x 18.5cm including the frame; and another panel with 11ll. of elegant prose in gold cloud-bands, signed Abdul Majid (Taliqani - Master of Ta'liq script), dated Jamadi Al Thani, within concentric navy, pink, and blue borders, and gold and black rules, mounted, framed and glazed, the text panel 19cm x 6.5cm, 34cm x 28cm including the frame.