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

The object is a painted page from the manuscript Tales of a Parrot (Tuti‑nama). Rendered on aged paper, the surface bears dense black calligraphy arranged in tight horizontal rows, bordered by a slender red line that defines the margins. The page’s coloration shows a warm patina with faint brown specks, indicating age and use.

The script records a narrative segment of the Tales of a Parrot, a literary work composed for Prince Salim. The careful, space‑filling hand reflects the text’s significance and the patron’s status, emphasizing the importance of the story within the courtly context.

Tales of a Parrot belongs to a tradition of Persian narrative literature that blended poetry and prose for elite audiences. Such manuscripts were often richly illustrated, though this particular leaf emphasizes textual content over decorative imagery, highlighting the value placed on literary patronage.

The page exemplifies the high level of calligraphic artistry achieved in Persian court manuscripts and serves as a reference for scholars studying the transmission of literary works to princely patrons in the early modern period.