Object Details
- Description
- Manuscript; Divan (Collected poems) by Jami; Persian in black nasta'liq script; headings in white and blue; 282 folios with 1 sarlawh (folio 1 verso), 1 unwan (folio 5 recto), and five paintings; standard page: 2 columns, 11 lines of text.
- Binding: The manuscript is bound in papier-mâché with lacquer-painted exterior covers and doublures of leather filigree, scalloped medallion, and cornerpieces on a multicolored paper ground.
- Provenance
- Possibly to 1907
- Possibly Octave Marie Joseph Kérim Homberg Sr. (1844-1907), method of acquisition unknown [1]
- Likely 1907-1931
- Octave Marie Joseph Kérim Homberg Jr. (1876-1941), possibly by inheritance from his father, Octave Marie Joseph Kérim Homberg Sr. [2]
- 1931
- Sale, Paris, Galerie Georges Petit, « Catalogue des tableaux anciens : objets d'art et de haute curiosité européens et orientaux ... la collection de Octave Homberg, : Juin 3, 2, & 5, 1931, lot 91 [3]
- 1931-1933
- Unidentified collector, likely purchased at Galerie Georges Petite Auction [4]
- 1933
- Sale, Paris, Hôtel Drouot, "Objets d'art de curiosité et d'ameublement, européens et orientaux, antiques, moyen-âge, Renaissance, XVIIIe siècle ... Provenant de la Collection d'un Amateur" March 15 and 16, 1933, lot 35 [5]
- 1933-1942
- Henri Vever (1854-1942), purchased at Galerie Georges Petit Sale in June 1931 [4]
- 1942-1947
- Jeanne Louise Monthiers (1861-1947), bequest of Henri Vever [5]
- 1947-1986
- Francois Mautin (1907-2003), bequest of Jeanne Louise Monthiers and Henri Vever [6]
- From 1986
- Arthur M. Sackler Gallery purchased from Francois Mautin [7]
- Notes:
- [1]Octave Homberg Senior was a Censor of the Bank of France before becoming the Director of the Société Générale, one of the oldest banks in France. He amassed a diverse collection of fine arts, which included medieval European sculpture and Islamic manuscripts and
- objects. Upon his death, he bequeathed the majority to his son, Octave Homberg Jr. The works
- that were not passed on to Homberg Jr., were
- sold
- at auction at Galerie Georges Petit on May 11-16, 1908 in Paris, France.
- [2] Octave Homberg Jr. was a French diplomat, banker, writer, and collector. As one of France's foremost financiers, he served as the French financial agent in the United States and part of the Anglo-French Commission. In the early 1930s, Homberg fell into/experienced financial trouble and in 1931 sold the majority of his art collection, which
- he had largely inherited from his father. It is possible that Homberg Senior bequeathed this manuscript to his son, Homberg Jr., see note 1.
- [3] Galerie Georges Petit, "Catalogue des tableaux anciens : objets d'art et de haute curiosité européens et orientaux ... la collection de Octave Homberg" [auction catalogue] (Paris, June 3-5, 1931), lot 91.
- [4] See note 5.
- [5] Hôtel Drouot, "Objets d'art de curiosité et d'ameublement, européens et orientaux, antiques, moyen-âge, Renaissance, XVIIIe siècle ... Provenant de la Collection d'un Amateur" [auction catalogue] (Paris, March 15 and 16, 1933), lot 35. See annotation about this auction on the recto of the last folio of the manuscript.
- [6] An accomplished French jeweler and collector, Henri Vever (1854-1942) amassed a large and impressive collection of works of art during his lifetime. His holdings in Japanese prints and Islamic arts of the books, especially from Iran and India, were among the most important assembled in the early twentieth century. This work was in Vever's collection at the time of his death in 1942. Vever purchased this manuscript at the Galerie Georges Petit auction in June 1931 (see note 3). This work was in Vever's collection at the time of his death in 1942.
- [7] Upon Henri Vever's death on September 25, 1942, his wife, Jeanne Louise Monthiers inherited the work. See exhibits F and G of Agreement of Purchase and Sale of the Henri Vever Collection, January 9, 1986, copy in object file.
- [8] Upon the death of Jeanne Louise Monthiers, as stipulated in the will of Henri Vever, the family's assets were divided evenly between his two grandchildren. His only grandson, Francois Mautin inherited the collection known as "The Henri Vever Collection of Oriental Art and Manuscripts Including Persian and Indian Art and Manuscripts." This work is part of that collection. See exhibits F and G as cited in note 5.
- [9] The Arthur M. Sackler Gallery purchased the entirety of the collection from Francois Mautin on January 9, 1986. See purchase agreement, copy in object file.
- Research completed July 11, 2022.
- Collection
- Arthur M. Sackler Collection
- Previous custodian or owner
- Francois Mautin (1907-2003)
- Jeanne Louise Monthiers (1861-1947)
- Henri Vever (1854-1942)
- Octave Homberg
- Octave Marie Joseph Kérim Homberg Sr. (1844-1907)
- Data Source
- Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
- Author
- Jami (died 1492)
- Date
- 2nd half of 16th century
- Credit Line
- Purchase -- Smithsonian Unrestricted Trust Funds, Smithsonian Collections Acquisition Program, and Dr. Arthur M. Sackler
- Medium
- Opaque watercolor, ink and gold on paper
- Dimensions
- H x W: 23.5 x 15.5 cm (9 1/4 x 6 1/8 in)
- Type
- Manuscript
