No Document Enters the Archive Without Review
Before any document is presented at Persian Folio, it passes through a rigorous path of provenance research, historical cross-reference, material assessment and archival cataloguing. The goal is documented certainty for the researcher, collector and institution alike.
From Provenance to Archive
Provenance Research
Before any other step, every document is examined for ownership, its originating family or archive, and the chain of custody by which it reached the collection. In sensitive cases, direct and confidential negotiation is conducted with the owner or heirs.
Historical Cross-Reference
The document's hand, seal, letterhead and script are compared against reference examples held in library sources, state archives and published histories to establish the probable period, author or issuing authority.
Material Assessment
Paper, ink, wax or lacquer seal, and binding type are examined for consistency with the claimed historical period and for physical condition; this stage also determines the document's future preservation requirements.
Cataloguing & Preservation
A documented record is compiled for each item, high-quality archival photography is taken, and acid-free housing appropriate to the object type is prepared. The document is then classified within the collection's internal index.
Royal Art Heritage
Persian Folio is a project under Royal Art Heritage, dedicated to gathering, authenticating and preserving historical documents and artifacts related to Iran's cultural, political, social and artistic history.
Our approach is built on research, discretion and transparency; every acquisition is conducted with full respect for the confidentiality of owners and the families who hold these documents, and every item completes the authentication process before it is presented.
The collection is continually growing, and a significant portion of it — due to sensitivity or at the request of owners — is available only to researchers, institutions and introduced collectors.
The collection is continually expanding; precise document counts are shared only with coordinated researchers and collectors.
"Authenticity comes before beauty. Every document that enters this archive must first answer to the questions of history."
PERSIAN FOLIO — CURATORIAL NOTEContact Us for Consultation or to Submit a Document
If you have a document for authentication, or require access as a researcher to restricted portions of the collection, reach out through our contact form.
Contact Persian Folio