A page from an Arabic-Hebrew lexicon or reference book, India, Mughal, circa 1645, Arabic manuscript on paper, with 22ll. written in naskh with a lavishly illuminated chapter heading decorated with arabesques in gold and colours, verso with an illuminated shamsa, or sunburst medallion, containing the ink impression of the original owner's seal, inscribed: amir 'abd al-razzaq khan khanazad-i shah jahan 1055 (Amir 'Abd al-Razzaq Khan, born at the court of Shah Jahan, AH 1055/[1645-6 AD]'), with later scribal notations and another owner's stamp, mounted glazed and framed, 35cm. x 18 cm.Provenance: Spink & Sons, 1998Published: Paper, Parchment Steel & Stone, Calligraphy and the Arts of Islam from the 8th-19th century, exhibition catalogue 27 April - 15 May 1998, Spink, no. 11.According to Dr Ebba Koch, the text of this manuscript describes and analyses Hebrew words. It is a kind of dictionary. 'Abd al-Razzaq, the patron of this manuscript, was the son of Amir Khan, a high-ranking nobleman in the court of Shah Jahan, who served as governor of Thatta in Sindh. 'Abd al-Razzaq, his son, was styled ''khanazad'' because he was born of one already in service to the emperor. He was however less successful than his father. While Amir Khan attained the rank of 3000 zat/2000 sawar, 'Abd al-Razzaq attained the modest rank of 900 zat/3400 sawar. He died in the year AH 1063/1652-3 AD. Please refer to department for condition report