An illustrated leaf from a manuscript of the Makhzan al-Asrar,...

An illustrated leaf from a manuscript of the Makhzan al-Asrar, from Nizami's Khamsa
Qajar Persia, 19th Century
Persian manuscript on paper, 12 lines of text written in nasta'liq script in black ink in four columns, intercolumnar rules in gold, inner margins ruled in colours and gold, light pink inner border, outer border with stylised foliate motifs in gold on a green ground, label on backboard of Tomanek framers, Paris
255 x 163 mm. with borders
The scene depicts a pilgrim returning and discovering that the gold coins he had left with a sufi for safe keeping have been spent.

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