“Arzadаsht”. Document

This document, known as “Arzādāsht,” dates to the early fifteenth century and was written by the calligrapher Ja‘far Tabrizi in the court workshop of Herat.
It belongs to the period of Shāhrukh and is associated with his son, Baysunghur Mirza, one of the most prominent patrons of book arts in the Islamic world. The document functions as an administrative report, recording the progress of manuscript production within the royal kitabkhāna.
It provides valuable insight into the organization of artistic labor. The text references calligraphers, painters, gilders, and bookbinders, as well as specific stages of production—from paper preparation to final binding. This makes it a rare primary source for understanding workshop practices in the Timurid period.
Ja‘far Tabrizi himself is recognized as a key figure in the development and refinement of the nastaliq script, a style combining elements of naskh and ta‘liq. By the fifteenth century, it had become the preferred script for Persian literary manuscripts.
The document demonstrates a high level of calligraphic discipline: the lines are carefully ruled, and the proportions and rhythm of the script are consistently maintained. This reflects both aesthetic and technical standards of manuscript production.
The object displayed here is a replica. The original is preserved in the Topkapı Palace Museum in Istanbul. The use of a replica allows for public display while ensuring the preservation of the original artifact.
This exhibit illustrates that manuscript production in fifteenth-century Central Asia was a highly structured and collaborative process.
“Arzādāsht” is therefore not only a specimen of calligraphy but also a document revealing the internal organization of one of the most sophisticated artistic traditions of its time.