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

The page contains a continuous block of Arabic text, suggesting it is part of a narrative or didactic story. The *Tuti‑nama* is a collection of moral tales traditionally illustrated for courtly audiences, indicating the script likely conveys a moral lesson or anecdote intended for an educated reader.

The calligraphic work is rendered in a uniform, black ink applied with a fine brush, creating even, legible lines characteristic of Persian manuscript writing of the period. The thin reddish‑brown border frames the text, a decorative element that both protects the script and adds visual balance to the page.

Commissioned for Prince Salim, a prominent figure in the Safavid court, the page dates to approximately 1560. It later entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is displayed alongside other pages from the same codex, illustrating the manuscript’s original composition and its subsequent preservation.

During the Safavid era, illustrated manuscripts such as the *Tuti‑nama* were produced for elite patrons, combining literary content with refined calligraphy and occasional illumination. The work reflects the cultural emphasis on moral instruction and the aesthetic standards of courtly book production in 16th‑century Persia.