AN ILLUMINATED QAJAR QURAN WRITTEN FOR ABDULLAH KHAN AMIR NIZAM QARAGOZLU, PERSIA, 1319 AH/1901 AD

Arabic manuscript on paper, each folio with 14 lines of elegant black naskh script, interlinear Persian translation in red, gold and polychrome rosette verse markers outlined in black with blue dots, large gilt and polychrome floral marginal "juz' and hizb" medallions, text within gold and polychrome rules, surah headings in large red thuluth script on a polychrome floral illuminated ground, occasional marginal commentary notes in black nasta'liq script, opening two bifolia fully illuminated in gold and polychrome framing 6ll. in clouds reserved against a gold sprinkled ground, at the top of each page the name of the corresponding surah in large thuluth script within a gilt floral leafy panel, end of the text with prayers and dedication. The final page signed 'written by Muhammed Hasan Al-Hamadani in 13191H/1901AD. In gilt lacquer binding embellished with large flower heads amongst foliage. 22 by 33 cm. CATALOGUE NOTE Abdullah Khan Amir Nizam of Qaragozlu (died 1334) known as Amir Nizam Letgahi,one of Hamedan Khans, ministers and legislators of the Qajar era, son of Mustafa Qali Khan Etimad al-Sultaneh Qaragazlu. During the era of Muzaffaruddin Shah, he was nicknamed Sardar Akram, ruler of Sarkhes for a while and the ruler of Khuzestan for a while. He was one of the companions of Muzaffar al-Din Shah during his second trip to France. During the era of Muhammad Ali Shah, he became the military commander and minister of war, and after the removal of Muhammad Ali Shah, he became the finance minister in the second cabinet of Nasser al-Molk. He joined the National Assembly as a representative of Hamadan in 1893. Ain al-Dawlah once again chose him as the finance minister and introduced him to the parliament on the 11th of May. On July 15th of the same year, the government of Ain al-Dawlah was impeached over the riots in Kermanshah. Ain al-Dawlah and members of his government left the impeachment hearing in anger and resigned.