Overlapping black nasta'liq strokes fill a gold-flecked practice sheet

Bold black nasta'liq letterforms overlap and interlace across the full sheet, densely repeated in a calligraphic exercise that fills the gold-flecked tan ground edge to edge. Small sprigs of blue, red and green flowers are scattered between the interwoven strokes. A wide dark maroon border with fine gold floral scrollwork frames the sheet, separated from the calligraphy by a narrow green-and-gold rule. Dated 1258 AH (1842–3 CE), this is a siyah mashq, a black practice sheet in which the letters are composed for their rhythm and pattern.

Asadullah Shirazi was a Qajar master of nasta'liq, recorded as active from the 1830s to the 1850s. His earliest dated writings, from 1836, name him as calligrapher to the court of Muhammad Shah Qajar (r. 1834–48). He is known for siyah mashq, the calligraphic exercise sheets in which overlapping letterforms are composed for their own beauty. His date of death is not recorded. His work is held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Printed as a museum-grade giclée on Hahnemühle fine art paper using 12-ink archival pigment printing. Available handframed in FSC-certified wood with optional float glass, or unframed. Ships worldwide with free delivery to 30+ countries.