Silsilename,

Silsilname are geneaological manuscripts, often presented in scroll format, that were popular during the Ottoman Empire where they served as a tool by which Ottoman Sultans could claim legitimise their rule. Although these are generally classed as geneaologies, they often do not follow a strictly linear or chronolical order. This Silsilename begins with Adam and ends with the reign of Sultan Abülmecid I. It includes the ancient Iranian and Turkish Kings, the pre-Islamic Arabs and Prophets, Iskandar Muhammad as well as his ancestors and descendants, the 12 Shi'a imams, the Umayyads, Abbasids, Buyids, Samanids, Ghaznavids, Seljuks, Khwarazmshahis, the Chingizids and the Ottomans.

Single scroll, illuminated manuscript on paper formed of 8 membranes (formed of two different paper stocks), in Arabic and Ottoman Turkish, the scroll starts with Adam and finishes with the Ottoman Sultan Abülmecid I, roundels outlined in gold containing names and titles of historical figures in red diwani, linked together with red and blue lines, contemporary annotations and marginalia in black diwani script, dated in the lower left hand corner of the final membrane, a few small smudges or stains, overall clean and attractive condition; housed in modern red cloth box. 8000 x 280mm (315 x 11 inches).