Marriage contract, 1874
Signed: Abul Qasim Farhang
Iran
Ink, colors, and gold on paper; 10 3/8 x 5 5/8 in. (26.3 x 14.3 cm)
Gift of Charles K. Wilkinson, 1979 (1979.518.5a-q)
Signed: Abul Qasim Farhang
Iran
Ink, colors, and gold on paper; 10 3/8 x 5 5/8 in. (26.3 x 14.3 cm)
Gift of Charles K. Wilkinson, 1979 (1979.518.5a-q)
This marriage contract is signed by Abu'l Qasem Farhang ibn al-Vesal (18261890), son of the famous Muhammad Shafic, known as Vesal of Shiraz (17791846). Like his father and brothers, he was an accomplished poet and calligrapher, specializing in the naskhi, shikastah, and nastacliq scripts. This documents shows his skill with two other types of script. The passage from the Qur'an at the beginning of the contract is in thuluth while the body of the text is in riqac. As was typical for the nineteenth century, the scribe used a number of different colored inks, including black, red, green, and purple. The first page is also ornately illuminated with a central panel and borders of floral decoration.


















