An illuminated marriage contract of Malik Jahan Khanum, grand-daughter of Fath Ali Shah to Mirza Muhammad Hassan, Persia, Qajar, dated 1833-4

An illuminated marriage contract of Malik Jahan Khanum, grand-daughter of Fath Ali Shah to Mirza Muhammad Hassan, Persia, Qajar, dated 1833-4
Manuscript - ink heightened with gold on paper
141 by 57.8cm. framed.
Illuminated document with three lines of naskh script in red ink at top, consisting of 34 lines of shikasteh script in black ink, finely illuminated headpiece and border decoration in colours and gold, three seal impressions, framed

This important Qajar marriage certificate records the union of Malik Jahan Khanum, daughter of Ali Naqi Mirza Rukn al-Dawla, the eighth son of Fath Ali Shah Qajar, to Mirza Muhammad Hassan, son of Mirza Masih Hakim-Bashi (Chief Physician). This is probably the Hakim-Bashi Mirza Rahim, who was physician to the harem of Fath Ali Shah and one of the emperor's confidants. It is very unusual for a marriage certificate to mention the name of the bride first, as the present case, and is almost certainly due to the fact that she was a grand-daughter of Fath Ali Shah, of the royal line. The dowry is listed as one thousand toman, a huge sum for the day.