Quatrain du Mantiq al-Tayr (Conférence des oiseaux) de Farid al-Din 'Attar (m.1229)

An illuminated quatrain signed by Mir 'Ali Harawi (or atelier), Central Asia, Bukhara, 16th century Poetry, ink and opaque pigments heightened with gold on paper, 4 lines. of fine black nasta'liq in poly-lobed cartouches in reserve on a cobalt-blue background decorated with tchi clouds and dense floral scrolls. Located in Dar al-Saltana Bukhara in the month of Sha'ban. Signed Mir 'Ali in the lower triangle, on a background decorated with foliage. Mounted on an album page with a beige border with arabesques of gold scrolls, and margins with strong green paper decorated with animals among trees. Condition: a few repaints, notably at the bottom of the signature, and traces of moisture in the margins that do not affect the calligraphy. Calligraphy: 16.7 x 9.5 cm Full page: 31.2 x 20.5 cm Provenance : Public sale, France. Private collection since the 1980s. Known as the Sultans' calligrapher, Mîr ʿAlî Heravi (d.1544) was one of the best calligraphers of the Timurid period living in Herat and working in the royal libraries of many governors. He moved in 935 AH, 1528-1529 to Bukhara, forced by Ubaydullah Khan (Shaybanid king). He died in this city 16 years later.