One beautifully calligraphed copy of Nawā'ī's Lisānu l-Ṭayr, sometimes known as Manṭiqu l-Ṭayron the basis of the Manṭiq al-Ṭayrof ‘Aṭṭārby which this work was inspired. — Multiple dates; Possibly Tabriz, Iran

Title

One beautifully calligraphed copy of Nawā'ī's Lisānu l-Ṭayr, sometimes known as Manṭiqu l-Ṭayron the basis of the Manṭiq al-Ṭayrof ‘Aṭṭārby which this work was inspired. — Multiple dates; Possibly Tabriz, Iran

Shelfmark

MS. Ouseley 195

Place of origin

Possibly Tabriz, Iran

Date

1530/1

Language

Chagatai

Contents

Form

codex

Support

fibrous but burnished light cream coloured paper

Physical extent

101 folios

Hands

Script: Clear, small nasta‘līq in black ink with red, blue, gold, and purple inks for the headings within illuminated ‘unwāns. Scribe: A small note at the end of the colophon gives the name of the scribe as حاجی محمد التبریزی Ḥājī Muḥammad al-Tabrīzī , which Ethé (1930: 2122)identifies as an alternate appelation for the famous Safavid calligrapher محمد حسین تبریزی Muḥammad Ḥusayn Tabrīzī .

Decoration

Splendid miniatures on folios 1b and 2a.

Decorated blue and gold medallions around the title/rubrics on folios 2b and 3a .

Splendid blue and gold borders with red hatched cloudbands around the text on folios 3b and 4a . The borders also contain four ‘unwāns with a rubric/title and dedication to Nawā'ī.

Several beautifully decorated floral unwans, many with cloud bands, in different coloured inks and paints for section headings throughout.

Borders around the textbox in red, green, and gold throughout.

Fine gold speckling behind the text in textboxes throughout.

Acquisition

Purchased by the Bodleian Library in 1858.

Provenance

The collections of Sir Gore Ouseley, d. 1844

Subject

Chagatai poetry