Anthology of Persian Poetry (Safina)
A.H. 1092 and 1096/ A.D 1681 and 1685
Medium
Main support: Ink and watercolor on paper. Binding: Leather
Dimensions
H. 7 1/2 in. (19.1 cm) W. 3 1/8 in. (7.9 cm)
Classification
Codices
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Elizabeth S. Ettinghausen Gift, in memory of Richard Ettinghausen, 2003
Accession Number
2003.121
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Anthology of Persian Poetry*, known as a *safina*, was created by the calligrapher and artist ʿAbd al-ʿAzim al-Yahya in 1681 and 1685. These small, portable volumes were popular in Persian literary culture for collecting favorite verses, allowing owners to carry poetry on journeys or share it in intimate gatherings. Measuring just 7½ by 3⅛ inches, the manuscript’s compact format underscores its personal, practical nature while showcasing the refined craftsmanship of late seventeenth-century Iran. Executed in ink and watercolor on paper with a leather binding, the *safina* feat...