An important royal Sidi manuscript produced for the Nawab of...

An important royal Sidi manuscript produced for the Nawab of Sachin Ibrahim Muhammed Yakut Khan I Bahadur (r. 1802 - 1853AD), Sachin, South India, first half of the 19th century, 244ff., Persian and Urdu manuscript on paper, in verse form, with 9ll. of black nasta'liq script arranged in two columns, headers in Persian and contained within floral decorated cartouches, with 29 illustrations, of which 7 are in the Shahnameh style, 11 depict seated rulers, including a portrait of Ibrahim Muhammad Yakut Khan I, mostly haloed and including one woman, and 11 scenes of festivals, births, weddings and two bifolium processional scenes, lacking binding, the folios all loose and not in order, folio 26.4 x 19.2cm. The titles in the floral cartouches suggest this text is a collection of tales, as is also evident by the illustrations. The titles are in Persian and all begin with the word ‘dastan’ (tale) and contain the words/phrases ‘description of pain’; ‘sorrow/grief’ ; ‘love’; ‘becoming a lover’; ‘in the garden’; ‘badshah on a hunt’. The opening folio contains the inscription 'ibn mathnawi nadir... tusanaf sidi abdul al rahman ... / al muthalis(?) ikhlas ibn nawab sidi ibrahim muhammad yakut khan... / nusrat jung bahadur ... iqbal This important manuscript is a rare testimony to the royal manuscript and artistic production of Sachin state. Sachin state was founded on 6 June 1791. Although most of the subjects were Hindu, the state was ruled by Sunni Muslims of the Siddi dynasty of Danfa-Rajpuri and Janjira State. The Siddi dynasty is of African, specifically Abyssinian (Habesha) origin. Sachin State was under the protection of the Maratha Peshwa until it became a British protectorate. It had its own cavalry, currency, and stamped paper, as well as a state band that included Africans. Although there is not much comparative 19th century miniature painting from Gujarat, these illustrations appear to exhibit discernible Central Indian or North Deccan influence.