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

The script was rendered by hand, evident in subtle irregularities of each letter that betray a skilled scribe’s touch. The black ink is applied in fluid strokes that vary in thickness, creating a sense of movement across the page. A thin red border, painted with a fine brush, delineates the text area and adds a modest decorative accent.

Originally part of a larger codex, this page was separated from its companion illustrations and now resides in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The manuscript dates to the Safavid period, reflecting the era’s flourishing of Persian literary production and manuscript illumination.

Tuti‑nama belongs to a tradition of animal fable collections that blended moral instruction with entertainment. In the Safavid court, such works were prized for their linguistic elegance and the skill of their calligraphers, serving both as literary entertainment and as objects of cultural prestige.

Although lacking pictorial decoration, the page exemplifies the high level of calligraphic artistry achieved in Persian manuscript culture. Its preservation allows scholars to study the script’s form, the material qualities of Safavid book production, and the transmission of popular narrative texts across centuries.