Unknown - Hafez-Diwan - 1850

A highly decorative and pleasing folio of Kashmiri origin copied from the Dewan written by Mohammed Shama od-din Hafez (1329-1399). It is in very good condition. It is written in elegant nasta'liq in black ink on burnished paper by a fine calligrapher, and has beautiful arabesque decorations dividing the horizontals and columns. The gold embellishment is in fine condition. There are 12 lines of scripture, two pairs of which are book-ended by mirror-image decorative floral illuminations. The whole is framed with multiple framing lines including gold. The colours remain vibrant after 175 years.

The Dewan, which expresses Sufi ideals in lyrics, was written by Mohammed Shama od-din Hafez (1329-1399), a Sufi Muslim who practised a mystical form of Islam. His name 'Hafez' was given to those Muslims who could recite the Holy Koran by heart.

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