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The Persian Art Galleries
Limited
Telegraph Address,
Akemenid, London
Telephone Mayfair 501

128 New Bond Street
London, 25th August 1913
4
W

lustre, subtle and evasive, form such a harmonious marriage with the delicate turquoise and blue frequently used in the decoration, that the whole cannot fail to make a very strong appeal to the imagination, and move, delight, and charm at the same time. Though delicate and charming the color scheme, most dazzling and agreeable the quality of the lustre - the best that I ever set my eyes on - the grandeur, however, of the monument is, in my opinion, in the modelling of the high reliefs, by means of which the grand scheme of arabesque ornaments and marvellous caligraphy of cufic, the various types of archaic Thuluthes and naskhy characters are carried out. I do not think I shall be exaggerating if I say that, -taking, for an example, the arabesque scheme of the great central piece; and for caligraphy, the grand exterior frieze - nowhere have either of these highly developed abstracts of beauty in Mohammedan decorative art been subjected to so perfect an achievement as here. 

The state of preservation of the monument is exceptionally satisfactory, and had it not been for the three tiles that are missing - the first three tiles of the frieze - the monument would have been a perfect one. These three tiles were taken before the mihrab came into the possession of Mostofy-ul-Memalik, and one of them was acquired by the late George Salting, for which, I am told, he paid to Mr. Durlacher - a London art dealer - a sum in the neighbourhood of One thousand pounds, and which is now in the South Kensington Museum as a part of Satling's bequest. The other two, I think, were sold at the sale of the late Mr. Homberg, and are now held by a collector. 

As to the price, taking into consideration the ultimate destiny of your great collection, which, by your generous gift, will serve for the noble purpose of public education, and in gratitude of your appreciation of Persian art, I shall be willing to accept L16,000. (Sixteen thousand pounds) from you as the lowest figure in lieu of L20,000 (Twenty thousand pounds) I intend marking the same as the selling price should you renounce the acquisition of it.