Jake Benson
Curator, Thesaurus Islamicus Foundation Dar al-Kutub Manuscript Project (TIF-DAK)
Abstract:
Certain Safavid manuscripts, such as a copy of Farīd al-DīnʿAṭṭār’s Manṭiq al-
Ṭayr (MMA 63.210.35), and a double-page illustration of The Princely Hawking Party
attributed to Mīrzā ʿAlī (MMA2.223.1 and MFA14.624), are embellished with marbled
paper borders with quite different stylistic features. The evolution of these decorative
papers resulted from exchanges between artists regarding their methods, materials, as
well as their individual talents and tastes. Additionally, these papers not only document
the evolution of the art of marbling, but also demonstrate the extent to which members of
the Safavid ruling elite deliberately fostered this trend in Iran.
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