• SIX ROYAL LETTERS FROM MUZAFFAR AL-DIN SHAH QAJAR TO HIS DEPUTY FINANCE MINSITER VAZIR DAFTAR 1900 - 1902
  • Handicrafts and classics, Calligraphy, manuscript
  • 20.4 * 28 cm
  • IRAN, DATED 1900-1902
    Six Persian letters on paper, with 5-17ll. black cursive handwriting on cream, white and blue paper, in some cases the text in clouds against a gold ground, set within gold and polychrome rules, with royal seals above, the borders richly illuminated with dense gold and polychrome scrolling vines and flowers, all remargined and mounted on card with later outer border of blue and gold meander, two folios with a window on the reverse to reveal a further seal
    11 x 8in. (28 x 20.4cm.) each
Estimation
£6,000
7,897 USD
- £8,000
10,529 USD
Realized Price
£6,300
8,292 USD
10%
Artwork Description

Muzaffar al-Din Shah (r.1896-1907) was the 5th Qajar ruler of Iran. Like his father, Nasir al-Din Shah, he visited Europe on two occasions, capturing his visits in photographs and film. The first month-long trip of Muzaffar al-Din Shah was to Russia, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium and France in 1900. His visit to Brussels is expressed in one of our letters below. He also made a further visit to Europe in 1902, which is also mentioned in another letter included in this group. The king, like his father, kept very good travel diaries of his European tours. Some of the letters included in this lot provide his personal notes to his finance minister, Mirza Husayn Ashtiyani Vazir Daftar. Vazir Daftar was the eldest son of Hidayatullah Vazir Daftar. He was appointed as deputy to the Finance Ministry in mid AH 1296/ 1879 AD, where his father had been its Minister since AH 1290⁄1872 AD. After his father’s death in AH 1310/ 1892 AD, he was appointed Vazir Daftar (minister). Unlike his father, he was a weak person and obeyed Amin al-Sultan Mirza ‘Ali Asghar Khan, the vizier, in everything (M. Bamdad, Dictionary of National Biography of Iran, Vol. 3, Tehran, 1966, pp. 372-3).

For more information on the content of these royal letters please refer to christies.com

The content of the letters include:
1. A letter from Muzaffar al-Din Shah to Vazir Daftar from his European trip, honouring him for his services, dated 28th Safar 1320 / 6 June 1902, written in Karlsbad(?).
2. An order from Muzaffar al-Din Shah to Mirza ‘Ali Asghar Khan, bestowing the distinction of the bejewelled staff of the first order on Vazir Daftar in recognition of his services. This was a distinction awarded to ministers (see ‘Abd al-Husayn Khan Lisan al-Saltana Sipihr, Mir’at al-Waqayi‘-i Muzaffari, ed. ‘Abd al-Husayn Nava’i, Vol. 1, Boston 2019, p. 278). Dated Dhu’l-Hijja 1317 / April-May 1900
3. A letter from Muzaffar al-Din Shah to Vazir Daftar from Baku on his return from his travels in Europe, telling him of his plans to arrive back in Tehran via Astara and Gilan and expressing his satisfaction with the company of Mirza ‘Ali Asghar Khan, Atabak-i A‘zam. The Shah mentions that he is sending a photo with the letter. Dated Jumada II 1320 / September-October 1902
4. From Muzaffar al-Din Shah to Amin al-Sultan Atabak-i A‘zam, concerning Vazir Daftar Ramadan 1320 (December 1902).
5. A letter to Vazir Daftar from Muzaffar al-Din Shah, informing him of his arrival in Brussels and of his favourable reception there. Dated 28 Rabi‘ II 1318 / 25 August 1900
6. A petition to a ruler, presumably Nasir al-Din Shah, from an unnamed noble who has been appointed head of the army, requesting that his duties in the Finance Department (daftar-i istifa’) be taken over by Mirza Riza, son of Mu’in al-Mulk. The petition is approved in the upper right corner, presumably in the hand of Nasir al-Din Shah.
More lots by Unknown Artist

ArtChart | An Isfahan pictorial rug, Central Persia, circa 1910 by Unknown Artist
An Isfahan pictorial rug, Central Persia, circa 1910
Estimation
£4,000
5,236 USD
-
£6,000
7,853 USD
Realized Price
£5,670
7,421 USD
13.4%
Sale Date
Sotheby's - 30 March 2022
ArtChart | A gold medal commemorating the coronation of Muhammad Reza Shah and Queen Farah by Unknown Artist
A gold medal commemorating the coronation of Muhammad Reza Shah and Queen Farah
Estimation
£100
132 USD
-
£200
263 USD
Realized Price
£160
211 USD
6.667%
Sale Date
Rosebery's Auction - 1 April 2022
ArtChart | A silver memorial medal of the White Revolution, Muhammad Reza Shah, 1967 by Unknown Artist
A silver memorial medal of the White Revolution, Muhammad Reza Shah, 1967
Estimation
£200
263 USD
-
£300
395 USD
Realized Price
£170
224 USD
32%
Sale Date
Rosebery's Auction - 1 April 2022
Artist Performance at Auctions

Realized Price 69,501 USD
Min Estimate 36,463 USD
Max Estimate 54,751 USD
Average Artwork Worth
+87.283%
 
Average Growth of Artwork Worth
Sales Performance Against Estimates
Average & Median Sold Lot Value
2018 - 2022
Performance vs. Estimate
2018 - 2022
Sell-through Rate
2018 - 2022
Similar Artworks

ArtChart | A SAFAVID BINDING by Unknown Artist
A SAFAVID BINDING
Estimation
£1,500
1,974 USD
-
£2,000
2,632 USD
Realized Price
£5,670
7,462 USD
224%
Sale Date
Christie's - 31 March 2022