India, first half of 18th century

Collections of Ghazals (love poems) and ruba'iyat (quatrains) were common in the Islamic tradition. In addition to the illumination of the 'unwans (headpieces) and margins of the text, the entire page surface has been flecked with silver. The colophon gives the calligrapher's name, Muhammad ibn Walad Qasim ibn Mawlana Muhammad Rida. Previous owners were Abu al-Fazl ibn Ghiyath al-Din Mansur(?) and Anwar al-Dawlah, whose seal bears the date 1170 A.H. (1756 or 7 A.D.). This date has been used as a terminus post quem.

Glazed paper, 345 leaves, 180 x 85 mm, 1 and 2 columns, in Persian.