Binding of a Khamsa (Quintet) by Amir Khusraw Dihlavi (d.1325)

Binding with scenes of animals and birds in landscapes, surrounded by sunken panels of Persian calligraphy in thuluth script; leather over paper pasteboards; gold block-stamped; doublures of red leather with filigree work over blue, black and yellow painted grounds; one of a group of three: the binding (S1986.472) and folios (S 1986.72.1-2) are accessioned separately.

Historical period(s)
Safavid period, ca. 1575-1600
Medium
Leather over paper pasteboards with gold block-stamping
Dimensions
H x W (open): 36.3 x 24.2 cm (14 5/16 x 9 1/2 in)
Geography
Iran, Qazvin
Credit Line
Purchase — Smithsonian Unrestricted Trust Funds, Smithsonian Collections Acquisition Program, and Dr. Arthur M. Sackler
Collection
Arthur M. Sackler Collection
Accession Number
S1986.472
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Book
Type

Bookbinding

Keywords
Henri Vever collection, Iran, Khamsa, Safavid period (1501 - 1722)
Provenance

From at least 1911
Claude Anet (1868-1931), Paris, from at least 1911 [1]

To 1942
Henri Vever (1854-1942), Paris and Noyers, France, to 1942 [2]

From 1942 to 1986
Family member, Paris and Boulogne, France, by inheritance from Henri Vever, Paris and Noyers, France [3]

From 1986
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, purchased from a family member, Paris and Boulogne, France [4]

Notes:

[1] The object is documented as having appeared in the collection of Claude Anet by at least October 19, 1911. See Susan Nemazee, "Appendix 7: Chart of Recent Provenance" in An Annotated and Illustrated Checklist of the Vever Collection, Glenn D. Lowry et al (Washington, DC: Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; Seattle and London: University of Washington Press, 1988), p. 411. Claude Anet was the pseudonym of writer Jean Schopfer.

[2] See Glenn D. Lowry et al., An Annotated and Illustrated Checklist of the Vever Collection (Washington, DC: Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; Seattle and London: University of Washington Press, 1988), pp. 178-179, no. 208.

[3] See the Agreement for the Purchase and Sale of the Henri Vever Collection of January 9, 1986, Collections Management Office.

[4] See note 3.

Previous Owner(s) and Custodian(s)

Henri Vever 1854-1942
Claude Anet 1868-1931
Francois Mautin 1907-2003

Description

Binding with scenes of animals and birds in landscapes, surrounded by sunken panels of Persian calligraphy in thuluth script; leather over paper pasteboards; gold block-stamped; doublures of red leather with filigree work over blue, black and yellow painted grounds; one of a group of three: the binding (S1986.472) and folios (S 1986.72.1-2) are accessioned separately.

Published References
  • Georges Marteau, Henri Vever. Miniatures Persanes: tirees des collections de M.M. Henry d'Allemagne, Claude Anet, Henri Aubrey... 2 vols., Paris, June-October 1912. vol. 2 pl. CLXXXI.
  • Arthur Upham Pope, Iranian Institute of America. Masterpieces of Persian Art. New York. pl. 138.
  • Asian Art Fall 1988. vol. 1, no. 4 New York, Fall 1988. cover.
  • The Hague. Catalogus tentoonstelling van Islamische kunst. cat. 45, p. 24.
  • Glenn D. Lowry, Susan Nemanzee. A Jeweler's Eye: Islamic Arts of the Book from the Vever Collection. Washington and Seattle. cat. 74, pp. 51, 212-215, fig. 21.
  • Glenn D. Lowry. Persian Miniatures from the Vever Collection. vol. 18, no. 9 Hong Kong, Spring 1989. p. 52.
  • Glenn D. Lowry, Milo Cleveland Beach, Elisabeth West FitzHugh, Susan Nemanzee, Janet Snyder. An Annotated and Illustrated Checklist of the Vever Collection. Washington and Seattle. cat. 208, pp. 178-179.
  • Assadullah Souren Melikian-Chirvani. Le Chant du Monde: L'Art de l'Iran safavide, 1501-1736. Exh. cat. Paris. cat. 92, pp. 316-317.
Collection Area(s)
Arts of the Islamic World
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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