Shamsa (recto) from right folio from a double-page frontispiece of a Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Firdausi (940–1019 or 1025)
c. 1444
Maker Unknown
Islamic Art
Shamsa (recto) from right folio from a double-page frontispiece of a Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Firdausi (940–1019 or 1025), c. 1444. Iran, Shiraz, Timurid period (1370-1501). Opaque watercolor and gold on paper; image: 27.7 x 10.3 cm (10 7/8 x 4 1/16 in.); overall: 32.5 x 22.1 cm (12 13/16 x 8 11/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 1945.169.a At the center of the recto side of this folio is a shamsa, or sunburst, an exquisite symmetrical pattern of floral and geometric shapes painted in precious pigments and gold to reference divine light. The shamsa might have been intended to contain a name or portrait identifying the manuscript’s original owner, but in this case it is empty.
- Maker/Artist
- Maker Unknown
- Classification
- Manuscript
- Formatted Medium
- opaque watercolor and gold on paper
- Medium
- opaque, watercolor, gold, paper
- Dimensions
- Image: 27.7 x 10.3 cm (10 7/8 x 4 1/16 in.); Overall: 32.5 x 22.1 cm (12 13/16 x 8 11/16 in.)
- Inscribed
- Inscription: Yā kabīkaj Translation: King of Cockroaches Remark: This is a talismanic inscription against insects that might damage the book.
- Departments
- Islamic Art
- Accession Number
- 1945.169.a
- Credit Line
- Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund
- Exhibitions
- Persian Miniature Manuscripts, <em>Exhibition of Muhammedan Art [Die Ausstellung Von Meisterwerken der Muhammadanischen Kunst in Munchen]</em>. Munich, Germany (1910)., Institute of Arts, Detroit, MI (1935). [lent by Minassian] (both folios?), <em>Exhibition of Islamic Art</em>. De Young Memorial Museum, San Francisco, CA (February 24-March 22, 1937)., <em>Exhibition of Persian Art. </em>The Iranian Institute, New York, NY (1940)., <em>Exhibition of Islamic Art</em>. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (1944)., <em>Mostra d'Arte Iranica</em> [<em>Exhibition of Iranian art</em>]. Instituto Italiano Per Il Medio Ed Estremo Oriente, Rome (June-August 1956)., <em>7000 Ans d'art en Iran</em>. Petit Palais, Paris (October-November 1961)., <em>Muslim Miniature Paintings from American Collections</em>. Fondazione Giorgio Cini, Venice, Italy; Asia House, New York, NY (September 1962-February 1963)., <em>Juxtapositions</em>. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (September 11-October 10, 1965)., <em>Imperial Images in Persian Painting</em>. The Scottish Arts Council Gallery, Edinburgh, Scotland (August 13-September 11, 1977)., <em>The Twain Shall Meet</em>. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (October 30, 1985-January 5, 1986)., <em>Order and Rhythm: Carpets from the Islamic World</em>. Allen Memorial Art Museum, Oberlin, OH (September 10-November 7, 1993<em>).</em>
- Rights Statement
- CC0
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