Manuscript of a Rubaiyat (Quatrains) of Omar Khayyam

This is a rare and very charming manuscript of the famous Ruba‘yat (Quatrains) of Omar Khayyam. The poet lived in Iran during the 12th century, where he is best known for his scientific contributions. However, due to the celebrated translation of his works into English verse by Edward FitzGerald, his work has long been widely acclaimed in Europe and North America.

This manuscript is exceptional for two reasons. First, it was penned by the most renowned calligrapher of the 16th century, Mir ‘Ali Haravi (died 1543), whose calligraphic samples were widely collected in the Islamic world. Second, it was decorated with a small couple of birds on each page by an Indian painter when the manuscript reached the subcontinent in the course of the 17th century, a sign of the continuous refurbishment that Islamic manuscripts experienced through the centuries.