Traditional Book Arts: Private View & Exhibition
Join us at the Private View for our latest exhibition, curated by Near East & Islamic specialist Roxana Kashani. Find more information and how to RSVP below. All pieces will be on view at our Bond Street Bookshop from 27th October to 13th November 2026.
Join us from 6-8pm on Thursday 5th November for a Private View of our new exhibition, curated by Near East & Islamic specialist Roxana Kashani. The event, held at our Bond Street Bookshop, includes a talk at 6:45pm from the artist Maryam Mirzaei, a contemporary artist specialising in traditional Persian arts. To reserve a space at the event, please RSVP to rsvp@shapero.com.
Can’t attend the event? All pieces will be on view at our Bond Street Bookshop from 27th October to 13th November 2026.
The exhibition offers a glimpse into the traditional book arts, including illumination, miniature painting and calligraphy from Persia and the wider Islamic world, spanning from the 9th century to the present day.
The concept of classical or traditional arts is often associated with a past world, where the styles in question are preserved exclusively for their own period in history. The process of reproduction and copying, particularly in the context of Western classical arts, have negative connotations and artwork produced ‘after’ named artists rarely carry the same level of gravity or prestige as the original. Styles evolved naturally over time, echoing the past but undoubtedly forming their own identity in the process.
This catalogue will examine how the traditional book arts from Persia and the wider Islamic world developed somewhat differently. Not only have tazhib (art of illumination) and tasweer (classical miniature painting) survived as standalone artforms, but they have thrived. Living artists today are still practicing these traditional crafts using the same hand-made natural inks and painting techniques that were used centuries ago. Similarly, the prestigious art of calligraphy was not impacted by the printing revolution in the Middle East in the same way that it was in Europe, with contemporary calligraphers still mastering the craft of traditional calligraphic styles today.
Shapero Rare Books is delighted to present contemporary artist Maryam Mirzaei and contemporary calligrapher Morteza Salehi in this catalogue, showcasing their exceptional work in preserving the traditional book arts, alongside examples of the same techniques and styles from centuries ago.
