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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
text: dated 892 AH/1487 CE; illumination: ca. 1600
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.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Illuminated Frontispiece of a Manuscript of the Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds)
  • Calligrapher: Sultan 'Ali al-Mashhadi (Iranian, Mashhad 1453–1520 Mashhad)
  • Illuminator: Zain al-'Abidin al-Tabrizi (Iranian)
  • Author: Farid al-Din `Attar (Iranian, Nishapur ca. 1142–ca. 1220 Nishapur)
  • Date: text: dated 892 AH/1487 CE; illumination: ca. 1600
  • Geography: Made in present-day Afghanistan, Herat. Made in Iran, Isfahan
  • Medium: Ink, opaque watercolor, silver, and gold on paper
  • Dimensions: H. 7 3/4 in. (19.7 cm)
    W. 4 1/2 in. (11.4 cm)
  • Classification: Codices
  • Credit Line: Fletcher Fund, 1963
  • Object Number: 63.210.1
  • Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
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"The Anecdote of the Man Who Fell into the Water", Folio 44r from a Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds), Sultan 'Ali al-Mashhadi Iranian, Opaque watercolor, silver, and gold on paper
"The Anecdote of the Man Who Fell into the Water", Folio 44r from a Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds)
Sultan 'Ali al-Mashhadi
Farid al-Din `Attar
dated 892 AH/1487 CE
Divan (Collected Works) of Mir 'Ali Shir Nava'i, Sultan 'Ali al-Mashhadi Iranian, Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper; lacquer binding
Divan (Collected Works) of Mir 'Ali Shir Nava'i
Sultan 'Ali al-Mashhadi
1499–1500
"Funeral Procession", Folio 35r from a Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds), Sultan 'Ali al-Mashhadi Iranian, Opaque watercolor, silver, and gold on paper
"Funeral Procession", Folio 35r from a Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds)
Sultan 'Ali al-Mashhadi
Farid al-Din `Attar
dated 892 AH/1486 CE
Divan of Sultan Husayn Baiqara, Sultan 'Ali al-Mashhadi Iranian, Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper; lacquer binding
Divan of Sultan Husayn Baiqara
Sultan 'Ali al-Mashhadi
dated 905 AH/1500 CE
"Farhad Carves a Milk Channel for Shirin", Folio 74 from a Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizami of Ganja, Nizami, Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
"Farhad Carves a Milk Channel for Shirin", Folio 74 from a Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizami of Ganja
Multiple artists/makers
931 AH/1524–25 CE

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