Item Summary

Lavishly illuminated copy of the Shāhnāmah, containing 33 high-quality, well-preserved miniatures of the 16th century. Preceded by the Bāysunghurī Introduction on fol. 1b-13a.

Descriptive Information

Title
شاهنامه.
Transliterated Title
Shāhnāmah.
Call Number
Islamic Manuscripts, Garrett no. 56G
Identifier
ark:/88435/dcz603r971n
Publisher
[1544]
Language
Persian
Date Created
1544
Format
Manuscript
Extent
ii, 629, ii leaves : paper, col. ill. ; 403 x 254 (257 x 140) mm. bound to 410 x 263 mm.
Provenance
On fol. 13b, owner's seal of Amān Allāh accompanied by a note stating that he presented the ms. to Yūsuf Khān Sarhang in Kurdistān in 1265 H [1848 or 9].
Source Acquisition
Gift; Robert Garrett (Class of 1897), 1942.
References
Moghadam, M. E. et al. Garrett collection, no. 1
Rights Statement
Copyright Not Evaluated
Contents
Miniatures: fol. 5a: [Firdawsi and the four court poets]
fol. 26a: [Zahhak enthroned]
fol. 39a: [Zahhak brought before Faridun]
fol. 48b: [Tur, Sakila slay Iraj]
fol. 53a: [Manuchihr kills Tur]
fol. 63b: [Zal marries Rudabah]
fol. 73b: [Rustam's birth]
fol. 75b: [Rustam slays White Elephant]
fol. 96b: [Rustam slays White Div]
fol. 100a: [King Mazandaran dies]
fol. 105b: [Kai Kaʾus air-borne]
fol. 121a: [Rustam mourns Suhrab]
fol. 139a: [Siyavash hunts onager with Afrasiyab]
fol. 152a: [Guruy executes Siyavash]
fol. 159b: [Rustam slays Pilsam]
fol. 173b: [Rustam, Zal before Kay Khusraw]
fol. 186b: [Giv strikes crown from Tazhav's head].
fol. 209a: [Rustam slays Ashkabus, horse]
fol. 224a: [Rustam vanquishes Puladvand]
fol. 245a: [Rustam rescues Bizhan from pit]
fol. 270b: [Piran escapes from Gudarz but is later killed]
fol. 287a: [Kay Khusraw, Iranians triumph]
fol. 307b: [Kay Khusraw slays Afrasiyab while Garsivaz looks on]
fol. 323a: [Gushtasp slays wolf]
fol. 338b: [Isfandiyar kills Bidirafsh]
fol. 350b: [Isfandiyar's first exploit: Fights wolves]
fol. 353a: [Isfandiyar's fifth exploit: Kills Simah Barzin]
fol. 361a: [Gushtasp receives Isfandiyar]
fol. 367b: [Rustam kicks aside rocked pushed by Bahman]
fol. 375a: [Rustam boasts during trial of strength with Isfandiyar]
fol. 380b: [Combat between Rustam and Isfandiyar]
fol. 408b: [Bahman has Faramarz shot full of arrows in Kabul]
fol. 598a: [Captured Qolun mortally wounds Bahram Chubinah].
Notes
Ms. codex.
Title from title page (fol. 1a).
Physical description: 25 lines per page, in four columns; written in small nastaʻliq in black on tan glazed, laid Arabic paper. Text occasionally written on a diagonal. Text framed in gold and blue, with marginal red border; columns separated by double gold lines. Original leaves mounted on new borders of glazed, laid European paper. Fol. 255, 386-387, 431, 488 are replacements; on fol. 386, 431, the space for the miniatures is filled with unfinished sketches in ink, and miniature space on fol. 488 is left blank. Last two leaves patched; some leaves damp stained and smudged. Otherwise in good condition.
Decoration: Title page on fol. 1b elaboratedly illuminated in gold and color which have faded somewhat. On fol. 13b, illuminated ʻunwān in gold and color. Headings in blue in a rectangular frame decorated in gold and color. Spaces between diagonal text illuminated with pattern similar to headings. With 33 well-preserved miniatures of high quality, likely 16th century.
Origin: Copy completed in Jumādá I 951 H [July-August 1544] (fol. 629a).
Binding Note
Rebound in modern maroon leather. Original 17th-century binding is full green leather with filigree central mandorla and corner pieces on colored background; brown leather doublures.

Discovery Information

Subject
Headpieces (layout features)—Islamic Empire—16th century
Illuminated manuscripts—Islamic Empire—16th century
Poetry

Physical Characteristics

File Count
1272

Institutional Information

Collection
Manuscripts of the Islamic World
IIIF Manifest URL

https://figgy.princeton.edu/concern/scanned_resources/ee3528e9-88a4-4d2b-adee-f05efede87a7/manifest