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

The calligraphy is executed in a precise, flowing hand characteristic of Persian manuscript tradition, with uniform line weight and careful spacing. Small supplemental lines are set within framed boxes near the centre of the page, providing visual hierarchy within the dense composition.

The manuscript was commissioned for Prince Salim, a member of the Mughal royal family, reflecting the courtly practice of gifting richly illustrated books to elite patrons. The leaf now resides in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is displayed as part of their South Asian holdings.

Produced during the Mughal period, the *Tuti‑nama* combines Persian literary themes with Indian artistic conventions. Such works were often created in royal workshops, where scribes and painters collaborated to produce luxurious texts for aristocratic audiences.

Although only a single page survives in this collection, the leaf illustrates the high level of calligraphic skill and the cultural exchange embodied in Mughal manuscript production, offering scholars insight into the literary tastes of the early modern Indian court.