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

The object is a single folio from the Persian manuscript known as Tuti‑nama (Tales of a Parrot). It consists of a handwritten page of narrative text, rendered in a compact, flowing script on light‑brown paper. The ink appears dark brown to black, and the text occupies the entire surface, bounded by a thin blue decorative border. A cataloguing number, 62.279/47, is noted in the lower corner.

The calligraphy is executed in a neat, cursive hand characteristic of 16th‑century Persian manuscript production, with diacritical marks, small dots and lines, added above or below letters to clarify pronunciation. The use of a thin blue border reflects a decorative practice that frames the text without overwhelming the script, while the paper’s warm tone suggests a high‑quality rag stock.

Tuti‑nama belongs to a tradition of Persian illustrated books that blend poetic prose with moral instruction. Although this page contains only text, it would have originally been accompanied by miniature paintings that visualized the parrot’s dialogues, situating the manuscript within the broader cultural practice of didactic storytelling in early modern Iran.