Description:

RESALEH FORS NAMEH MOSSAVVAR, MANUSCRIPT OF THE ANATOMY AND TYPES OF HORSES
Persia, 18th/19th Century

Description:
An illustrated Persian manuscript dedicated to the anatomy, classification, and treatment of horses, written in elegant black and red nastaʿlīq script on cream-toned paper. This work, known as Resaleh Fors Nameh Mossavvar, is richly complemented by multiple miniature watercolour illustrations of various horse types, breeds, and coats, reflecting equine taxonomy as understood in Qajar-era veterinary science.

The manuscript opens with textual sections outlining anatomical structure, traditional Persian veterinary care, and the symbolism of certain horse colours. Subsequent folios are adorned with naturalistic renderings of horses in side profile, identified with Persian captions. These detailed paintings suggest both artistic refinement and practical knowledge, likely intended for use by a noble stablemaster or in a royal court.

The illustrated leaf shown here depicts two breeds of horses with striking coat patterns: one with chestnut patches on white, and the other bearing black dappled markings on a grey body. The delicacy of linework and careful application of pigment reflect a mature manuscript tradition in Qajar Persia.

Dimensions:
21.5 x 14.5 cm

Medium:
Ink, watercolour and gouache on paper

Comparable Examples:

  • A Persian veterinary manuscript with horse illustrations sold at Sotheby’s, Arts of the Islamic World, 25 October 2022, Lot 118, for £15,300.

  • An equine treatise with comparable figural style from 19th-century Iran, containing anatomical studies, fetched £12,500 at Bonhams, Islamic and Indian Art, 30 April 2019, Lot 134.

  • A Qajar-period illustrated manuscript on falconry and equestrianism realised £9,750 at Christie’s, Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds, 26 April 2018, Lot 163.

Note:
Horse-related manuscripts formed an important genre of applied scientific literature in Persian culture. This piece belongs to a tradition that blended artistry with empirical observation, reflecting the elevated role of horses in military, ceremonial, and agricultural life. The care with which each horse is named and depicted suggests not only a taxonomic purpose but also an element of reverence for the animal’s place in Persian royal and chivalric culture.

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May 6, 2025 1:00 PM BST
London, United Kingdom

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