TWO LOOSE CALLIGRAPHIC FOLIOS FROM THE NASIR AL-DIN SHAH ALBUM
Qajar Iran, late 19th century, ca. 1888

Comprising a cut-out panel of bold nasta’liq calligraphic flourish in golden yellow, the text including the name of the famous Safavid calligrapher ‘Imad Al-Hasani’, set on a brown field illuminated with scrolling white motifs and polychrome flowerheads, within a narrow pink border, laid on blue card, residual traces of the once-accompanying intricate découpaged album border revealed in the reduced blue support, the text panel 29cm x 19.6cm, the folio 31.3cm x 22cm; and a folio of convoluted shikasteh nasta’liq script on the nature of love, the text arranged in three clockwise sections, dated Dhu al-Qa'dah (11th month) (?), the text clustered in gold cloudbands, the composition within narrow dark and light green bands, laid on pink card, traces of the original découpaged album borders remaining on the reduced outer border in gold, green, and blue, the text panel 24.5cm x 18cm, the folio 28.5cm x 21.5cm.