Visit More Oriental
Rug Notes by Barry O'Connell
|
|
Lot 297 Sotheby's London UK. 04/30/1992 Fariburz comes before Kay Khusrau enthroned within a draped chamber, three chained prisoners in foreground, hilly landscape under gold sky, an illustrated leaf from a manuscript of Firdausi's Shahnama copied by Salik ibn Sa'id for Sultan Ali Mirza of Gazan (reigned 1478 - 1504) Turkmen Court Style, dated 1494. 1 |
|
This is from one of the great works of Turkoman art, a Shahnama for Sultan Ali Mirza of Gazan. The term "Big Head" refers to the size of the head of the figures in the miniatures. Besides his acclaim as sponsor of this Shahnama Ali Mirza was noted for protecting young Ismael Safavi against his grandfather the Il-Khan of the Ak-Quyunlu whose men had already killed his brother. Ismael Safavi founded the Safavid Dynasty and created a great Shahnama for his son Tahmasp The Shahnama-i-Tahmasp sometimes called the Houghton after the man who dismembered it is often thought of as the last important work of late Turkmen art. |
|
Sometimes disparaged for the disproportionate size of the heads this work has a life and vitality all to lacking in much of Turkoman art. | |
Related work
- Sotheby's Islamic and Indian Art Oriental Manuscripts and Miniatures. London UK. 04/30/1992 Lot 297
For Further Reading:
Thanks and best wishes,
J. Barry O'Connell Jr.
