In this album, the shape of the various letters has been cut out from sheets of coloured paper. Great skill is required. The aim of paper-cut calligraphy is to resemble the calligrapher’s handwriting exactly. This art is believed to have developed in 15th century Iran and may have evolved from leather or paper filigree work on bookbinding. This is a album shows how the various Arabic letters are written singularly or in combinations. The calligraphy is that of Mir ‘Ali Haravi (d.1556), one of the best known nasta‘liq calligraphers. Aside from the calligrapher’s name, this album also contains the name of the qati‘ (paper cutter), Sangi ‘Ali Badakhshi — a master artist in his own right.
