Portrait of Fath-Ali Shah Qajar, f.13r from 'Divan-i Khaqan', 1802-03 (lacquer & gold on paper)

Fath-Ali Shah Qajar (1772-1834) second Shah (Qajar emperor) of Iran. Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar (1742-97) founder of the Qajar dynasty of Iran. Manuscript, bound in early nineteenth century Iran, with painted and stencilled enamel. The central panel is of pink roses and nightingales, on a black background containing powdered gold. The rose and nightingale, or gul o bolbol, allude to a common recurrent theme in Persian poetry. The gold painted borders have a floral design and the black arabesques in the border contain verses of poetry which have been engraved. There is a signed inscription in the central panel. The inside covers are reminiscent of Mughal design, and show Indian influence post 1739. Early in his reign, Fath 'Ali Shah established a court noted for its artists and poets, to foster a sumptuous image of the Qajar dynasty, which ruled Persia (Iran) from 1794 to 1925. He wrote poetry himself, under the pen-name of Khaqan. He had several copies of his Divan (collected poems) written to present as diplomatic gifts. This copy was completed in February 1802, and portraits of Fath 'Ali Shah and of his predecessor, Aga Muhammad Khan, were added by the then Painter Laureate, Mirza Baba. It was not, however, until 1812 that the volume was given to Sir Gore Ouseley, British Ambassador Extraordinary to the Court of Persia, to convey to the Prince Regent, later George IV. Ouseley had spent several months in Teheran, negotiating the terms of a treaty between Britain and Persia. This is a late example of Islamic lacquer binding, a technique introduced from Herat in the fifteenth century and perfected in the sixteenth. The skills of miniature painters were often deployed on these bindings, as here; the central panel is signed by Mirza Baba. The flowers and birds are painted with lacquer coloured by pigments, and the background lacquer contains powdered gold. Several layers of lacquer give depth to each figure, the edges of which are defined by impressions of a fine comb, and the top surface is raised by deliberately created craquelure. The pages of the manuscript are colourful, with the text on a gold background, illuminated (i.e. decorated with gold) panels of red and blue, and wide blue borders adorned with lively animals, birds and flowers painted in gold. Manuscript on paper, 180 folios, with interlinear and marginal gilding, featuring animals, birds and floral motifs, and illuminated panels. Two fine portraits f.12v-13r, numerous other blank spaces intended for paintings, illumination and text. Written in nastaliq by the court scribe Muhammad Mahdi al-Tihrani; dated February 1802, miniatures dated 1802-3.