A PRAYER BOOK
Qajar Iran, signed Abdul Rahim Najafi, dated 1130 AH (1717)

Arabic and Persian manuscript on paper, 71ff. plus one fly leaf, each folio with 11ll. of black ink naskh script, the opening folio with gold and polychrome illumination, chapter headings and instructions in red ink, catchwords, within blue, green, and gold rules, inscribed ‘in the style of Ala’ud Din Mohammad Tabrizi’, set in a lacquer binding, the outer covers painted with a profusion of flowers including roses, irises, tulips and carnations on a dark brown ground, the inner covers with gold narcissi and butterflies on a black ground, the text panel 13.5cm x 7.3cm, the folio 17.2cm x 12cm.