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A LOOSE ILLUSTRATED FOLIO FROM THE MAJMA’ AL-TAWARIKH BY HAFIZI-I ABRU (D. 1430) The text, Timurid H
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Description
A LOOSE ILLUSTRATED FOLIO FROM THE MAJMA’ AL-TAWARIKH (ASSEMBLY OF CHRONICLES) BY HAFIZI-I ABRU (D. 1430)
PROPERTY FROM THE LATE ÉMILE TABBAGH'S COLLECTION
The text, Timurid Herat, Afghanistan, ca. 1425; the figural illustrations, possibly Iran, ca. 1900 - 1925
Persian manuscript on cream-coloured wove paper, the recto with 15ll. of black ink naskh script to the page, encased within two rectangular cartouches in-filled with later-added figural illustrations of rulers giving audiences to envoys and officials, the text narrating the history of Ardeshir's conquests and the founding of the Sassanian dynasty, set within red and blue rules, with an inventory sticker on the top left corner reading 'CP 35 250' (partly in Arabic) and a later-added pencil inventory number '1529' at the bottom of the page, the verso with 33ll. of black ink naskh script to the page, no sentence markers, a catchword in the lower left corner, with plain margins.
33cm x 22.3cm the text panel
42.5cm x 33cm the folio
Provenance: ADER Auctions, Paris, 25 November 2021, lot 183 (one of eight loose folios from the same manuscript, part of the Late Émile Tabbagh's collection).
The present folio comes from a now-dispersed historical manuscript produced in the Timurid kitabkhana of Herat for Sultan Shahrukh Mirza (r. 1405 - 47), son and successor of Timur (r. 1370 - 1405). Similarly to the Mongol Ilkhanid Jami' al-Tawarikh, the Majma' al-Tawarikh (Assembly of Chronicles) belongs to the genre of historiographical manuscripts predilected by Mongol and Central Asian rulers. But the Majma' is not only a history book. It emerges as a true dynastic project to confirm and enhance Shahrukh's legitimacy to rule. Written between 1423 and 1427, the text consists of four sections: a history of the world up to the Arab conquest; a history of the Caliphate until 1258; a history of Persia during the Seljuk and Mongol periods; and lastly, the Zubdat al-Tawarikh, which chronicles the lives of Timur and Shah Rukh until 1427.
To this day, only two copies of the Majma' survive: one, signed and illustrated, is preserved in the library of the Topkapi Sarayi Palace in Istanbul (Hazine 1653), and the latter, to which our folio most likely once belonged, presents later illustrations in a different hand. They are believed to have been purposefully added in the years 1925 - 26, just before the manuscript was sent to the States. Here, it was purchased and divided by the art dealer and collector Émile Tabbagh and her partner, Parish Watson, in 1928 - 1933. Since then, several folios have landed in international public institutions and private collections such as the British Museum in London, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto, the Chester Beatty Library in Dublin, and many more.
Another folio analogous to ours was successfully sold at auction at Bonhams London, 2 April 2009, lot 5. For further reference on the Majma' and its origins, please see S. Canby, Princes, Poets and Paladins: Islamic and Indian Paintings from the Collection of Prince and Princess Sadruddin Aga Khan, 1998, pp. 28 - 31; and T. Lentz and G. Lowry, Timur and the Princely Vision: Persian Art and Culture in the Fifteenth Century, 1989, pp. 98 - 102.
33cm x 22.3cm the text panel, 42.5cm x 33cm the folio
Qty: 1
Evidence of minor foxing, crinkles, few stains and watermarks in the margins. Some areas rubbed as well, now soft to touch. A narrow fold to the full extent of the left margin, and a small diagonal tear (1cm long) to the lower corner of the right margin, the illustrations a later addition (possibly ca. 1900 - 1925) to the original text and with evidence of rubbing and losses to the pigments, no clear evidence of repainting or restoration under UV light, minor smudges and bleeding to the ink of the text and minute piercing (possibly as a side effect of rubbing or worming) to the paper on recto and verso. A rare and important example, overall in good condition despite the losses to the pigments and the smudges of the ink.
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A LOOSE ILLUSTRATED FOLIO FROM THE MAJMA’ AL-TAWARIKH (ASSEMBLY OF CHRONICLES) BY HAFIZI-I ABRU (D. 1430)
PROPERTY FROM THE LATE ÉMILE TABBAGH'S COLLECTION
The text, Timurid Herat, Afghanistan, ca. 1425; the figural illustrations, possibly Iran, ca. 1900 - 1925
Persian manuscript on cream-coloured wove paper, the recto with 15ll. of black ink naskh script to the page, encased within two rectangular cartouches in-filled with later-added figural illustrations of rulers giving audiences to envoys and officials, the text narrating the history of Ardeshir's conquests and the founding of the Sassanian dynasty, set within red and blue rules, with an inventory sticker on the top left corner reading 'CP 35 250' (partly in Arabic) and a later-added pencil inventory number '1529' at the bottom of the page, the verso with 33ll. of black ink naskh script to the page, no sentence markers, a catchword in the lower left corner, with plain margins.
33cm x 22.3cm the text panel
42.5cm x 33cm the folio
Provenance: ADER Auctions, Paris, 25 November 2021, lot 183 (one of eight loose folios from the same manuscript, part of the Late Émile Tabbagh's collection).
The present folio comes from a now-dispersed historical manuscript produced in the Timurid kitabkhana of Herat for Sultan Shahrukh Mirza (r. 1405 - 47), son and successor of Timur (r. 1370 - 1405). Similarly to the Mongol Ilkhanid Jami' al-Tawarikh, the Majma' al-Tawarikh (Assembly of Chronicles) belongs to the genre of historiographical manuscripts predilected by Mongol and Central Asian rulers. But the Majma' is not only a history book. It emerges as a true dynastic project to confirm and enhance Shahrukh's legitimacy to rule. Written between 1423 and 1427, the text consists of four sections: a history of the world up to the Arab conquest; a history of the Caliphate until 1258; a history of Persia during the Seljuk and Mongol periods; and lastly, the Zubdat al-Tawarikh, which chronicles the lives of Timur and Shah Rukh until 1427.
To this day, only two copies of the Majma' survive: one, signed and illustrated, is preserved in the library of the Topkapi Sarayi Palace in Istanbul (Hazine 1653), and the latter, to which our folio most likely once belonged, presents later illustrations in a different hand. They are believed to have been purposefully added in the years 1925 - 26, just before the manuscript was sent to the States. Here, it was purchased and divided by the art dealer and collector Émile Tabbagh and her partner, Parish Watson, in 1928 - 1933. Since then, several folios have landed in international public institutions and private collections such as the British Museum in London, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto, the Chester Beatty Library in Dublin, and many more.
Another folio analogous to ours was successfully sold at auction at Bonhams London, 2 April 2009, lot 5. For further reference on the Majma' and its origins, please see S. Canby, Princes, Poets and Paladins: Islamic and Indian Paintings from the Collection of Prince and Princess Sadruddin Aga Khan, 1998, pp. 28 - 31; and T. Lentz and G. Lowry, Timur and the Princely Vision: Persian Art and Culture in the Fifteenth Century, 1989, pp. 98 - 102.
33cm x 22.3cm the text panel, 42.5cm x 33cm the folio
Qty: 1
Evidence of minor foxing, crinkles, few stains and watermarks in the margins. Some areas rubbed as well, now soft to touch. A narrow fold to the full extent of the left margin, and a small diagonal tear (1cm long) to the lower corner of the right margin, the illustrations a later addition (possibly ca. 1900 - 1925) to the original text and with evidence of rubbing and losses to the pigments, no clear evidence of repainting or restoration under UV light, minor smudges and bleeding to the ink of the text and minute piercing (possibly as a side effect of rubbing or worming) to the paper on recto and verso. A rare and important example, overall in good condition despite the losses to the pigments and the smudges of the ink.
Arts of India and the Islamic Lands
Sale Date(s)
Lots: 233
Venue Address
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London
W6 7DJ
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Important Information
Date: 28th Oct, 2024 12:00
Our Arts of India and the Islamic Lands auction is going to feature artworks from the Mediterranean shores, Near and Middle East, the Iranian plateau, all the way to Central and South Asia, covering a span of over ten centuries. The auction opens with a private glyptology collection of semi-precious hardstone intaglio seals and amulets dating from the 9th to the 20th century. Further star lots are a late 19th-century enamelled and gilt clear glass mosque lamp attributed to the Antonio Salviati workshop in Murano, Venice, property from an important European private collection; a Safavid engraved brass astrolabe and illuminated octagonal miniature Qur'an; and loose illustrated folios from the Majma' al-Tawarikh, part of the Late Emile Tabbagh collection, and from a Safavid Shahnama.
For any specific query, please do not hesitate to contact our Head of Department, Beatrice Campi at beatrice@azcaauctions.com. We look forward to hearing from you.
Viewing will take place at the following address:
Azca Auctions
Rear of 188 Hammersmith Road
Hammersmith
London, W6 7DJ
Viewing Times:
Sat. 19th Oct - 11:00 - 16:00
Sun. 20th Oct - 11:00 - 16:00
Mon. 21st Oct- 10:00 - 16:00
Tue. 22nd Oct - 10:00 - 16:00
Wed. 23rd Oct - 10:00 - 16:00
Thu. 24th Oct - 10:00 - 16:00
Fri 25th Oct - 10:00 - 1600
Sat 26th Oct - 11:00 - 16:00
Sun 27th Oct - 11:00 - 16:00
The sale will take place on Monday October 28th at 12:00pm GMT (London)
Sale contact
Name: Beatrice Campi
Email: beatrice@azcaauctions.com
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