A castle guardian on a faraway island discovered a casket and pulled it from the sea, in front of a red building with 5 window archways and text at the top and bottom of the painting.
AKM280.4, The Casket Containing Mah-Pervin is Being Pulled from the Sea, fol. 10r

© The Aga Khan Museum

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The Casket Containing Mah-Pervin is Being Pulled from the Sea
Folio from the manuscript of Tuhfet ul-Leta'if (Curious and Witty Gifts)
  • Accession Number:AKM280.4
  • Creator:‘Ali b. Naqib Hamza
  • Place:Turkey
  • Dimensions:23.7 x 14.2 cm
  • Date:1593–1594
  • Materials and Technique:opaque watercolour, ink, and gold on paper

  • Ottoman emperor Sultan Murad III (r. 1574–95) commissioned this manuscript relating various tales of the lovers Shah Ramin, son and heir of King Ardashir, and Mah-Pervin, daughter of the King’s vizier.

Further Reading

 

Upon discovering their love, Mah-Pervin’s wicked father locked her in a casket and hurled her into the sea before imprisoning Shah Ramin. Fortunately, a castle guardian on a faraway island discovered the casket and pulled it from the sea. Mah-Pervin later reunited with Shah Ramin.

 

The illustration of the castle in this folio displays aspects of period architecture. Window grills, brick walls, and arches of different hues have been rendered in bright, vivid colours.


References
Graves, Margaret S. and Benoît Junod, eds. Architecture in Islamic Arts: Treasures of the Aga Khan Museum. Geneva: Aga Khan Trust for Culture, 2011, 210–11. ISBN: 9780987846303

Note: This online resource is reviewed and updated on an ongoing basis. We are committed to improving this information and will revise and update knowledge about this object as it becomes available.

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