Piety and Politics in Qajar Iran

This is a remarkable book, which I highly recommend. Its focus is the Takkiyya Mu’avin al-Mulk and its rich decorative programmes. The author paints around these a colourful, and highly informative, picture of Iranian Shi’ism, its rites and its ceremonies. In addition, she brings to life the Takkiya’s wealthy merchant patron within the setting of early 20th century Iranian society and the country’s constitutional movement. * James Allan, Professor, University of Oxford, UK *

Nahid Massoumeh Assemi is an independent scholar who specializes in the art and architectural history of Qajar Iran. She has published articles in the peer-review journal Iran. She is a Bahari Visiting Fellow at the Bodleian Libraries, 2023-24 and a member of the Contemporary Art Council of the Iran Heritage Foundation. She holds a PhD from the Courtauld Institute of Art, London and an MA in Fine Arts from Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris where she was trained as a classical artist. She is also a miniaturist, illuminator and calligrapher working on commission.