A PRAYER BOOK
PROPERTY FROM A PRIVATE AMERICAN TRUST
Iran, 18th century, signed Muhammad Baqir bin Muhammad Taqi

Arabic and Persian manuscript on paper, 250ff. plus 3 flyleaves, each folio with 19ll. of black ink naskh script, the majority of the Arabic text in thuluth script, the opening folio with an illuminated heading in gold and polychromes, the scribe’s name Muhammad Baqir bin Muhammad Taqi present on the fourth line, the manuscript dedicated to Sultan Husayn (r. 1694 - 1722), the last independent Shah of the Safavid dynasty, chapter headings in red, catchwords, within blue, silver, and black rules, in lacquer binding, the outer panels painted in polychromes with a floral field of iris, rose, tulip, pansy, and the inner panels featuring a large Persian narcissus against a bright red ground in a standard arrangement which will become typical in the Qajar period, the text panel 14.5cm x 8.5cm, the folio 19.2cm x 12cm.