The King and the Dervish by Hilali Astarabadi

Title

Year/Period

1546-1547 CE

Region

Shiraz, Iran

Object Type

rare books

Material

gold leaf, gouache (paint), ink, paper (fiber product)

Technique

bookbinding (process), printing (process)

Dimension

Object size: H:16.9 x W:11.4 x D:1.7cm

Accession No.

2009-01596

Collection of

Asian Civilisations Museum

This pocket-sized copy of Shah va Darvish, or ‘The King and the Dervish’ by the early 16th century poet Hilali Astarabadi is illustrated with three small and exquisitely detailed miniature paintings. Shah va Darvish tells the story of the love of a dervish for a prince. It was written for Badi’ al-Zaman Mirza, the son of the Timurid ruler of Herat, Sultan Husayn Bayqara. At the time Shah va Darvish was considered immoral. However, many Dervish tales centre on the theme of love, which is believed to represent the yearning of the soul for a spiritual connection with God.