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

The calligraphy is executed in a flowing Nastaʿlīq script, noted for its elegant, slanted strokes and harmonious proportions.

The calligraphy is executed in a flowing Nastaʿlīq script, noted for its elegant, slanted strokes and harmonious proportions. Ink is applied with a fine reed pen, producing uniform lines that contrast with the warm, slightly fibrous paper. A thin red border frames the text, a decorative element common in Safavid‑era manuscripts, while the isolated blue mark suggests a correction or annotation made by a later hand.

The leaf originates from a Persian manuscript produced for Prince Salim, a member of a royal household whose identity aligns with early modern Persian patronage. The page entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art through acquisition in the late 20th century, though the precise chain of ownership prior to museum purchase remains undocumented in publicly available records.

Manuscript production in Persia during the Safavid period often combined literary works with lavish calligraphic presentation for elite patrons. *Tales of a Parrot* belongs to a genre of didactic storytelling that circulated among courtly circles, reinforcing moral instruction and entertainment. The use of colored borders and marginal annotations reflects contemporary aesthetic preferences and the collaborative nature of manuscript creation, involving scribes, illuminators, and patrons.