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 (Tuti‑nama). Executed on a single sheet of aged, tan‑toned paper, the surface is covered entirely with calligraphic text, framed by a narrow red border that defines the page’s margins.

The page contains a narrative segment of the Tuti‑nama, a collection of moral and didactic stories traditionally illustrated for courtly audiences. While the specific passage is not identified here, the text’s dense arrangement suggests a continuous prose passage rather than a decorative illustration.

The calligraphy is rendered in flowing black ink, with occasional blue accents that highlight particular words or phrases. The script is organized in tight horizontal lines, demonstrating a disciplined hand typical of Persian manuscript production in the early modern period. The red border, painted with a thin brush, provides a subtle visual restraint.

Pages such as this illustrate the enduring value placed on literary transmission in Persian culture. Even in the absence of elaborate imagery, the careful calligraphic execution underscores the manuscript’s role as both a literary and artistic object, informing contemporary understandings of manuscript production in the region.