Illuminated Frontispiece of a Manuscript of the Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds)

Calligrapher Sultan 'Ali al-Mashhadi Iranian
 Illuminator Zain al-'Abidin al-Tabrizi Iranian
 Author Farid al-Din `Attar Iranian

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 455

Here we see the text block of the Mantiq al‑Tair, along with its elegant binding. While the colophon of the main text is dated to 1487, the manuscript was completed after coming into the possession of the Safavid ruler Shah 'Abbas I (r. 1587–1629). During his reign, four paintings were added, along with illuminated folios, marbled‑paper margins, and an elaborate gilded binding.

Illuminated Frontispiece of a Manuscript of the Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds), Sultan 'Ali al-Mashhadi (Iranian, Mashhad 1453–1520 Mashhad), Ink, opaque watercolor, silver, and gold on paper

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Illuminated Frontispiece of a Manuscript of the Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds), Sultan 'Ali al-Mashhadi (Iranian, Mashhad 1453–1520 Mashhad), Ink, opaque watercolor, silver, and gold on paper
Illuminated Frontispiece of a Manuscript of the Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds), Sultan 'Ali al-Mashhadi (Iranian, Mashhad 1453–1520 Mashhad), Ink, opaque watercolor, silver, and gold on paper
Illuminated Frontispiece of a Manuscript of the Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds), Sultan 'Ali al-Mashhadi (Iranian, Mashhad 1453–1520 Mashhad), Ink, opaque watercolor, silver, and gold on paper
Illuminated Frontispiece of a Manuscript of the Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds), Sultan 'Ali al-Mashhadi (Iranian, Mashhad 1453–1520 Mashhad), Ink, opaque watercolor, silver, and gold on paper
Illuminated Frontispiece of a Manuscript of the Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds), Sultan 'Ali al-Mashhadi (Iranian, Mashhad 1453–1520 Mashhad), Ink, opaque watercolor, silver, and gold on paper
Illuminated Frontispiece of a Manuscript of the Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds), Sultan 'Ali al-Mashhadi (Iranian, Mashhad 1453–1520 Mashhad), Ink, opaque watercolor, silver, and gold on paper
Illuminated Frontispiece of a Manuscript of the Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds), Sultan 'Ali al-Mashhadi (Iranian, Mashhad 1453–1520 Mashhad), Ink, opaque watercolor, silver, and gold on paper
Illuminated Frontispiece of a Manuscript of the Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds), Sultan 'Ali al-Mashhadi (Iranian, Mashhad 1453–1520 Mashhad), Ink, opaque watercolor, silver, and gold on paper
Illuminated Frontispiece of a Manuscript of the Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds), Sultan 'Ali al-Mashhadi (Iranian, Mashhad 1453–1520 Mashhad), Ink, opaque watercolor, silver, and gold on paper
Illuminated Frontispiece of a Manuscript of the Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds), Sultan 'Ali al-Mashhadi (Iranian, Mashhad 1453–1520 Mashhad), Ink, opaque watercolor, silver, and gold on paper
Illuminated Frontispiece of a Manuscript of the Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds), Sultan 'Ali al-Mashhadi (Iranian, Mashhad 1453–1520 Mashhad), Ink, opaque watercolor, silver, and gold on paper
Illuminated Frontispiece of a Manuscript of the Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds), Sultan 'Ali al-Mashhadi (Iranian, Mashhad 1453–1520 Mashhad), Ink, opaque watercolor, silver, and gold on paper
Illuminated Frontispiece of a Manuscript of the Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds), Sultan 'Ali al-Mashhadi (Iranian, Mashhad 1453–1520 Mashhad), Ink, opaque watercolor, silver, and gold on paper
Illuminated Frontispiece of a Manuscript of the Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds), Sultan 'Ali al-Mashhadi (Iranian, Mashhad 1453–1520 Mashhad), Ink, opaque watercolor, silver, and gold on paper
Illuminated Frontispiece of a Manuscript of the Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds), Sultan 'Ali al-Mashhadi (Iranian, Mashhad 1453–1520 Mashhad), Ink, opaque watercolor, silver, and gold on paper
Illuminated Frontispiece of a Manuscript of the Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds), Sultan 'Ali al-Mashhadi (Iranian, Mashhad 1453–1520 Mashhad), Ink, opaque watercolor, silver, and gold on paper
Illuminated Frontispiece of a Manuscript of the Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds), Sultan 'Ali al-Mashhadi (Iranian, Mashhad 1453–1520 Mashhad), Ink, opaque watercolor, silver, and gold on paper

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