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

This object is a single folio from the illustrated manuscript Tales of a Parrot (Tuti‑nama). The sheet measures a modest size, its surface a pale, slightly yellowed paper marked by faint brown specks. A thin red line runs along the perimeter, framing rows of black calligraphic text rendered in an elegant, curved hand.

The page contains a portion of the narrative composed for Prince Salim, a royal patron of the early seventeenth‑century Mughal court. The story, centered on a parrot’s adventures, served both as entertainment and as a vehicle for moral instruction, reflecting the court’s taste for refined literary works.

The script is executed in flowing black ink, each line carefully aligned, demonstrating the high level of calligraphic training typical of court scribes. The red border, applied with a fine brush, provides a subtle decorative element without detracting from the textual focus. The paper’s slight discoloration indicates an aged, natural fiber support.