Tuti-Nama (Tales of a Parrot)

Ink is applied in a fluid, continuous hand, producing elegant, flowing strokes characteristic of classical Arabic manuscript writing. The gold border, applied as a thin leaf strip, frames the text without detracting from the script's legibility, reflecting a restrained decorative approach.

Commissioned for Prince Salim, a member of the Mughal court, the manuscript exemplifies royal patronage of literary arts. The folio now resides in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is displayed as part of the museum’s holdings of Islamic manuscripts.

*Tuti‑Nama* belongs to a broader tradition of Persian and Mughal illustrated books that blend prose, poetry, and visual ornamentation. Such works were often produced for elite audiences, serving both entertainment and instruction within the courtly milieu.