A PERSIAN CALLIGRAPHIC PANEL, SIGNED ASADULLAH AL-SHIRAZI, QAJAR, IRAN, DATED 1257 AH/1841 AD

Ink, gouache and gold on paper pasted on a cardboard page, four in Persian, in Nastaliq, in reserve in clouds on a gold background garnished with foliage. Was pasted onto a folio and decorated with several borders of lavish illumination. The writing itself is surrounded with cloud-like bubbles, around which miniature irises, lilies, and other plants bloom. Text: 25 by 17.5 cm. Panel: 42.5 by 28.5 cm. CATALOGUE NOTE Asadullah al-Shirazi was one of the outstanding calligraphers of the reigns of Fath ‘Ali Shah, Muhammad Shah and Nasir al-Din Shah Qajar. He was particularly admired by Muhammad Shah Qajar who awarded him the title 'Royal Calligrapher' (katib-i sultani). His recorded works are dated between AH 1252 and 1306/1836 and 1888 AD (Bayani, 1363 sh., vol.1, pp.60-64).