Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page

This object is a painted page from the Persian manuscript known as Tales of a Parrot, or Tuti‑nama. Executed as a text page rather than an illustrated spread, it presents a continuous block of black calligraphy framed by a narrow red margin. The page measures the full width of the folio, with the script filling the surface in orderly, rhythmic lines.

The calligraphic text contains a segment of the narrative that recounts the legendary adventures of a talking parrot, a popular motif in medieval Persian literature. Though the visual element is limited to script, the story’s moral and entertainment value are conveyed through the lyrical language and its structured presentation.

The script was rendered by hand, evident in subtle irregularities of each letter that betray a skilled scribe’s touch. The black ink is applied in fluid strokes that vary in thickness, creating a sense of movement across the page. A thin red border, painted with a fine brush, delineates the text area and adds a modest decorative accent.

Although lacking pictorial decoration, the page exemplifies the high level of calligraphic artistry achieved in Persian manuscript culture. Its preservation allows scholars to study the script’s form, the material qualities of Safavid book production, and the transmission of popular narrative texts across centuries.