IO Islamic 843 (Oriental Manuscripts, British Library)
India Office Library
Kullīyāt of Sa‘dī کلّیات سعدی
Contents
16 works by Sa‘dī on the subject of Persian poetry
References
f. 20v Hanging of Barsisa, a Jewish physician, before the King. 14 × 11 cm. .
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f. 42v The King in his ship watches his Persian slave being pulled on board. the ship is based on a European ship of the period, with three masts and cannon at the port-holes. The King bears a certain resemblance to 'Abbas I. 23 × 16.5 cm. .
f. 63v Nushirwan, attended, drinking in a tent while his horses are groomed behind. Village in the background. 13.5 × 11.5 cm. .
References
f. 94r Mi'raj: the Prophet, veiled, approaching Leo, led by Gabriel with a green banner and Israfil with the 7-fold trumpet: stars and fine clouds. 14 × 11 cm. .
f. 117v The generous man visiting the debtor in prison. 14 × 11 cm. .
f. 128v Landscape with dervishes and a man caught by a lion in the centre foreground. 13.5 × 11 cm. .
f. 137r Quarrel among dervishes in a landscape. 14 × 11 cm. .
f. 149v Battle-scene outside a town. 15.5 × 11 cm. .
f. 158r A learned discussion. 13 × 11 cm. .
f. 169v Zulaykha attempts to detain Yusuf in her house of idols: Potiphar stands by. 14.5 × 11 cm. .
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f. 232r Illustration to a ghazal. Prince and page on a balcony: admiring dervishes below. 13 × 11 cm. .
f. 246r Convivial party in a wine shop. Illustration to a ghazal. 15.5 × 11 cm. .
f. 291r Young prince and attendants hawking encounter two dervishes. Illustration to a ghazal. 15.5 × 11 cm. .
f. 322r An assembly of dervishes in a pavilion round an ornamental pond: the leading dervish detains a youth who is about to leave. Illustration to a ghazal. 14 × 11 cm. .
f. 339r A prince, riding with attendants on a hunting expedition, encounters two dervishes in a landscape, one young, the other bearded. Illustration to a ghazal. 14 × 14.5 cm. .
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f. 392r Gathering of dervishes, one of them leading a young man by the hand under a tree in a landscape. Illustration to one of the Khabithat. 16 × 10.5 cm. .
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Physical Description
Condition
The manuscript has been gauzed throughout
Hand(s)
Nasta‘līq
Scribe is recorded as Maḥmūd al-Kātib Shīrāzī عبد المنعم العلوىمحمود الکاتب شیرازی
Decoration
Margins and text are gorgeously illuminated on f. 2v, f. 3r, f. 34v, f. 35r, f. 92v, f. 93r f. 175v f. 176r f. 183v f. 184v f. 223v f. 224r f. 372v f. 373r f. 405v f. 406r
Minor embellishments and headings throughout the text
18 miniature paintings conforming to the court style of the time
ff. 1v-2r Double-page court scene within a splendid illuminated border and decorated margins. On 1v is Shah 'Abbas enthroned with courtiers and musicians; on 2r are courtiers and ladies, together with Turkish, Indian and European ambassadors, all on a terrace with a garden behind red railings. Some of the faces slightly blackened. Each half 18.5 × 11 cm. .
ff. 413v-414r Double-page miniature of a royal hunt with a splendid illuminated border and margins. On 413v the prince, evidently intended for Shah 'Abbas, is seated under a tree inspecting the bag. He is surrounded by attendantswith hawks and hunting cheetahs. On 414r the hunt is in progress, the quarry flown, leopard, lion, wild pig and gazelle. Each half 18.5 × 11 cm. .
Binding
Modern red half-morocco binding
History
Record Sources
Availability
Entry to read in the Library is permitted only on presentation of a valid reader's card for admissions procedures contact British Library, Registering for a Reader Pass. Contact apac-enquiries@bl.uk for further information on the availability of this manuscript. For information on catalogues and ordering manuscripts see Finding and ordering Persian manuscripts in the British Library.
Digital Images
BL Digitised Manuscripts (full digital facsimile)
Funding of Cataloguing
BL
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