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The Name of "Baha'ullah" in the Form of a Rooster
View through Harvard Museums
This composition featuring a rooster is formed from the name Bahaullah, the founder of the Baha’i faith. The rooster holds an open book bearing a blessing in shikasta script for a Baha'i faithful named Ziya. The calligrapher Mishkin Qalam, who signed his name and the date (H.1305) on the left, was born in Isfahan as Mirza Husayn. Noted for his fingernail art, the Qajar ruler Nasereddin Shah (r. 1848-96) appointed him as the tutor of his crown prince and honored him with the title Mishkin Qalam (Musk-scented pen). After years of service at the Qajar court Mishkin Qalam left Iran to meet with Bahaullah (1817-92), the founder of the Baha’i faith who was exiled in the Ottoman lands. As a follower of this faith, Mishkin Qalam also left Iran for the Ottoman lands but was exiled in Maghusa (Famagusta), Cyprus for several years. Later he was released to Haifa and Akka (Acre) in Ottoman Palestine, where this calligraphic work was likely made. The rooster likely symbolizes the dawn of the new faith and appears in several calligraphic compositions of Mishkin Qalam.
Department of Islamic & Later Indian Art
Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum Gift of John Goelet
Title: The Name of "Baha'ullah" in the Form of a Rooster
Description:
This composition featuring a rooster is formed from the name Bahaullah, the founder of the Baha’i faith.
The rooster holds an open book bearing a blessing in shikasta script for a Baha'i faithful named Ziya.
The calligrapher Mishkin Qalam, who signed his name and the date (H.
1305) on the left, was born in Isfahan as Mirza Husayn.
Noted for his fingernail art, the Qajar ruler Nasereddin Shah (r.
1848-96) appointed him as the tutor of his crown prince and honored him with the title Mishkin Qalam (Musk-scented pen).
After years of service at the Qajar court Mishkin Qalam left Iran to meet with Bahaullah (1817-92), the founder of the Baha’i faith who was exiled in the Ottoman lands.
As a follower of this faith, Mishkin Qalam also left Iran for the Ottoman lands but was exiled in Maghusa (Famagusta), Cyprus for several years.
Later he was released to Haifa and Akka (Acre) in Ottoman Palestine, where this calligraphic work was likely made.
The rooster likely symbolizes the dawn of the new faith and appears in several calligraphic compositions of Mishkin Qalam.
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