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

The calligrapher employed a tight, even hand using a fine brush or pen, producing smooth, flowing strokes characteristic of Persian Nastaʿlīq script. The red marginal line is applied with a thin brush, delineating the page’s edge without interrupting the text. The paper, likely handmade mulberry or hemp, exhibits a subtle texture that has softened with centuries of handling.

This leaf is part of the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection of Persian illustrated books, acquired through the museum’s early‑20th‑century acquisitions of Islamic manuscripts. The manuscript’s provenance traces back to Safavid Iran, where such texts were commissioned for elite patrons, before entering the Western art market and eventually the museum’s holdings.

The *Tuti‑nama* belongs to a broader tradition of illustrated moral compendia that flourished in the Islamic world from the 14th to 17th centuries. While many copies feature elaborate miniature paintings, some versions, like this one, prioritize textual presentation, highlighting the importance of the narrative itself within the literary culture of the period.