Description:

 AN EXCEPTIONAL ILLUMINATED DIVAN HAFEZ, SAFAVID 16TH/17TH CENTURY
Iran, Safavid period

Description:
A richly illuminated manuscript of the collected poetry (Divan) of Hafez, produced in Safavid Iran during the late 16th or early 17th century. This exquisite volume opens with double-page illuminated frontispieces in gold and polychrome floral arabesques, followed by finely penned Persian nastaʿlīq script in two columns, each page framed by delicate rules in gold, blue, and black. The margins are populated by elaborate gold decoration, and several pages are further enriched by finely executed miniature illustrations depicting courtly scenes and horseback duels, painted in vivid hues and highlighted in gilt.

The manuscript bears several illustrations and ornamental chapter headings, indicative of high-quality royal or princely patronage, and reflects the Safavid court’s aesthetic ideals. These details also make it an important cultural artefact from one of Iran’s most artistically flourishing dynasties.

Binding:
The volume is preserved in an elegant lacquered binding with a floral bouquet motif painted in vivid tones of red, orange, and yellow on a dark brown background. The borders are embellished with intricate vegetal scrolls and further floral cartouches, bordered in gilt. The inner covers are similarly illuminated with a central medallion and a floral border design, indicating its production in a major Safavid workshop.

Dimensions:
Length: 22 cm
Width: 14.5 cm

Comparable Examples:

  • A comparable Safavid illuminated Divan of Hafez, late 16th century, sold at Sotheby’s, Arts of the Islamic World, 1 May 2019, Lot 26, for £137,500.

  • A slightly earlier illuminated Divan with miniatures, attributed to Shiraz, circa 1540, sold at Christie’s, Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds, 27 October 2022, Lot 29, for £100,000.

  • Another finely illuminated Divan from the 17th century, though lacking illustration, sold at Bonhams, Islamic and Indian Art, 21 October 2021, Lot 15, for £81,250.

Note:
This manuscript exemplifies the Safavid passion for poetry, calligraphy, and miniature painting. The Divan of Hafez held profound cultural and spiritual significance in Persian society and was often commissioned by elites and bibliophiles. The presence of multiple illuminated folios and miniatures in this volume places it firmly within the highest tier of Persian manuscript production.

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May 6, 2025 1:00 PM BST
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