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

Blue ink is employed only for the sectional dividers, creating a restrained color palette of black, blue, and gold typical of Safavid‑era manuscript decoration.

The calligraphy is rendered in a precise, carefully shaped hand, each letter formed with deliberate control. Gold powder is scattered across the surface in minute specks, providing a subtle textural sheen that catches light without overwhelming the script. Blue ink is employed only for the sectional dividers, creating a restrained color palette of black, blue, and gold typical of Safavid‑era manuscript decoration.

The page originates from a Persian illustrated codex produced in the early modern period, likely between the 16th and 18th centuries. It entered the Cleveland Museum of Art through acquisition in the mid‑20th century, joining a larger group of related folios that together illustrate the manuscript’s original format and narrative sequence.

The Tuti‑nama belongs to a tradition of didactic literature in Persian culture, where animal protagonists convey ethical lessons. Such manuscripts were often commissioned by elite patrons for private study or display, and their production involved specialized calligraphers, painters, and goldsmiths working within courtly workshops.