Page of Calligraphy from a Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds)

Author Farid al-Din `Attar Iranian

Calligrapher Sultan 'Ali al-Mashhadi Iranian

ca. 1600

Not on view

This folio belonged to a manuscript of the Mantiq al-Tair that was presented to the Ardabil shrine in 1608–09, more than a century after its text and most of its illustrations were completed. Under the Safavid Shah ‘Abbas, its pages were remounted and four illustrations, a frontispiece, and a new binding were added. For a long time, the text and paintings were assumed to be Timurid, from the original manuscript. Scholars have determined, however, that this folio is one of fifteen Safavid additions that were produced to replace damaged or lost folios. The original calligrapher of the manuscript was Sultan ‘Ali Mashhadi, a famed calligrapher and poet of the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries.

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Title: Page of Calligraphy from a Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds)
Author: Farid al-Din `Attar (Iranian, Nishapur ca. 1142–ca. 1220 Nishapur)
Calligrapher: Sultan 'Ali al-Mashhadi (Iranian, Mashhad 1453–1520 Mashhad)
Date: ca. 1600
Geography: Made in Iran
Medium: Ink, opaque watercolor, gold, and silver on paper
Dimensions: H. 13 in. (33 cm)
W. 8 7/8 in. (22.5 cm)
Classification: Codices
Credit Line: Fletcher Fund, 1963
Object Number: 63.210.21
Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

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By Farid al-Din `Attar

By Sultan 'Ali al-Mashhadi

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Binding and Text-Block for the Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds), Farid al-Din `Attar Iranian, Binding: Leather, gold, and color; carved, impressed, and gilded<br/>Text-block: Ink, opaque watercolor, silver, and gold on paper — Binding and Text-Block for the Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds)
Farid al-Din `Attar
ca. 1600

Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds), Farid al-Din `Attar Iranian, Binding: doublure — Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds)
Farid al-Din `Attar
Sultan 'Ali al-Mashhadi
ca. 1600

Page of Calligraphy from a Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds), Farid al-Din `Attar Iranian, Opaque watercolor and gold on paper — Page of Calligraphy from a Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds)
Farid al-Din `Attar
dated 892 AH/1486 CE

"Allusion to Sura 27:16", Folio from a Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds), Farid al-Din `Attar Iranian, Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper — "Allusion to Sura 27:16", Folio from a Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds)
Farid al-Din `Attar
Sultan 'Ali al-Mashhadi
dated 892 AH/1486 CE

"Shaikh Mahneh and the Villager", Folio 49r from a Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds), Farid al-Din `Attar Iranian, Opaque watercolor, silver, and gold on paper — "Shaikh Mahneh and the Villager", Folio 49r from a Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds)
Farid al-Din `Attar
1487

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