20th C. Indo-Persian Illuminated Manuscript Page (Auction 2026-06-05, Lot 186A)

$192.75

Central Asia, Persia, late Qajar Dynasty, ca. 20th century CE. A vivid illuminated manuscript page in the Indo-Persian style, dating to the 20th century, painted with jewel-like pigments and copper detailing. The central drama depicts two mounted warriors locked in combat: the figure in a patterned red robe drives his sword into the chest of an adversary dressed in blue, their horses rearing amid the violence. At the lower right, an attendant stands gripping a paddle-like implement, watching the clash, while in the upper left two onlookers peer from behind a fantastical rocky outcrop crowned with a stylized tree rendered in lilac and rose. The miniature is enclosed by panels of flowing black-script Nasta’liq text above and below, anchoring the scene within its narrative context.
Size of page: 8.2″ W x 11.3″ H (20.8 cm x 28.7 cm); of matte: 11.5″ W x 15″ H (29.2 cm x 38.1 cm)

Beyond the image, the outer margin is decorated with fine vegetal motifs in glistening copper, featuring scrolling foliage and blossoms that frame the page with refined elegance. The reverse bears further lines of script. Blending precise draftsmanship with the theatricality of courtly epic, this work reflects the endurance of classical Persian miniature traditions in the 20th century, reinterpreted through Indo-Persian artistic sensibilities.

Provenance: private Park City, Utah, USA collection

Condition: A few tears and chipping to edges with five perforations down left edge from previous attachment to manuscript. Burn mark to upper center and some yellowing to paper throughout. Mounted in custom matte. Clear imagery and script with good pigments.