Wasilat al-najat [On Acts of Devotion].

Ahmad al-Narāqi.

Wasilat al-najat [On Acts of Devotion].

Iran,

1819.

The upper and lower covers of this lacquered Islamic binding for a theological text by a poet associated with the court of the Fath ‘Ali Shah Qajar feature a central mandorla with two pendants, painted floral borders, and gold decoration. Lacquer techniques for bindings were first developed in Persia from the end of the 15th century onwards. The first lacquer bindings were composed of heavily chalked leather; later examples, such as this one, were composed of paperboards fixed with gypsum or chalk. Lacquer bindings are usually considered a special type at the higher end of the book trade.

From the collection of Rare Book School