Id (feast day ) Prayer

Persian Nowruz poem, or quatrain (ruba'i), writen in Nasta'liq script. Ay rukhat 'id u abruyat mah-i 'id / Mah u salat khujasta bad u sa'id / Dida rushan mabad bi-ruyat / Qibla-yi khalq taq-i abruyat Dimensions of Written Surface: 9.2 (w) x 16.9 (h) cm Judging from the fragment's theme (e.g. see 1-04-713.19.3, 1-04-713.19.49, 1-04-713.19.48, 1-84-154.51, and 1-85-154.99), it is possible to suggest that the piece was executed in India sometime during the 18th or 19th century as a New Year's gift to an eminent patron. Oh, your face is 'id and your eyebrow is the moon of 'id / May your month and year be auspicious and happy / May my eye not be bright without seeing you / The arch of your eyebrow is the prayer direction of (all) people The text is written in black nasta'liq script on a beige paper and is framed by cloud bands on a gold background. The text panel is provided with blue and green frames and is pasted to a larger sheet of pink paper backed by cardboard. It seems like a calligrapher's signature may have been placed in the lower right corner of the text panel. However, it now is illegible due to water damage. This calligraphic fragment includes a poetical prayer wishing its owner happiness and prosperity on the occasion of the festival ('id) of New Year (Noruz). Beginning with a (now barely legible) invocation to God as the Glorious (huwa al-'aziz), the verses then read: Script: nasta'liq 1-04-713.19.4