A QAJAR MARRIAGE CONTRACT BETWEEN HAJI SHEYKH MOHAMMAD 'ALI AND KHANOM BALA KHANOM
Iran, dated 16 Ramazan 1318 AH (7 January 1901)

Persian and Arabic manuscript on paper, 8ff., each folio with 5ll. of nasta’liq script to the page, the opening folio with fine gold and polychrome illumination, each folio with marginal scrolling foliage illumination, the last two pages with marginal cartouches for witnesses’ five texts and seven seals, the Arabic text in the first and last pages in thuluth script, certain words in coloured ink, the text including references to the couple's relatives, the clergy involved, the dowry of 2700 Muzaffar al-Din Shah toomans, inclusive of a Qur'an manuscript and pearls weighing 12 Mithqals (51 grams), in cut and heat-pressed grey velvet binding, the text panel 16.5cm x 11cm, the folio 24.5cm x 17cm.