SHAMA'IL NAMEH, IRAN, LATE 19TH CENTURY

Miniature painted in gouache and gold on paper, Arabic text in gold inside illuminated cartridges, representing Imam Ali and his sons in an oval cartridge, framed by several poly-lobed cartridges with very fine decorations of flowered scrolls and spiral arabesques, with blessings for the Prophet and Ali. The names of the members of the holy family surround the representation of the Imam. The large outer frieze is inscribed with surah Al-Nur (Quran24, verse 35) in red naskh in golden poly-lobed cartridges. Framed under glass, laminated. 56 by 35.5 cm.