Pearls of the Parrot

June 19, 2005–September 11, 2005

This exhibition featured one of the most sumptuous manuscripts ever produced at the Mughal court of India, an illustrated edition of the Khamsa (Quintet of Tales) by Amir Khusraw, dating from circa 1595-98. All 29 of the surviving full-page illustrations were shown, as well as ornamental pages and the cover. Twenty-one of the illustrated pages are part of the Walters’ volume, which was dis-bound for conservation, and the remaining eight were borrowed from The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Also on view were decorative and text pages from the manuscript and five other Persian and Indian manuscripts belonging to the Walters.

This exhibition was generously supported by the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation.

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