Pishraw Khan was a ghulam of Shah Tahmasp (r. 1524-76) presented to the Mughal Emperor Humayun (r. 1530-40, 1555-6) during his exile in Iran. During the reign of Akbar (r. 1556-1605), he rose through the ranks and became supervisor and foreman of the imperial carpet department. He remained an honoured figure at the Mughal court until his death at the age of ninety (Wheeler Thackston, The Jahangirnama: Memoirs of Jahangir, Emperor of India, Washington D.C., 1999, pp. 48, 97). A portrait of Pishraw Khan is included in an album of Mughal portraits in the Royal Collection (acc. no. RCW1005038).

References in Jahangirnama: 

Jahangirnama p. 47

Nauroz 1606 – Jahangir raises Pishraw Khan to rank of 2000

‘Peshraw Khan, an old servant, who came from Persia in His Majesty Jannat-Ashyani’s retinue – indeed, he was one of the men sent as escort by Shah Tahmasp – was names Mihtar Sa’adat. Since he was the head and superintendent of my exalted father’s carpet department and was without equal in his service, he has been awarded the title Peshraw Khan. Although he is a retainer of gentle disposition and of a fretful nature, I promoted him to the rank of 2000 in view of the privileges he had acquired through service'

Jahangirnama on Pishraw Khan's death p. 98

“On the first of Rajab (Oct 1) Peshraw Khan and Kamal Khan, both of whom were servants well-known to me, died. Peshraw Khan had been given as a slave by Shah Tahmasp to my grandfather. His name was Sa’adat, and when he rose in His Majesty Arsh-Ashyani’s service to the office of supervisor and foreman of the carpet department, he was given the title Peshraw Khan. He was so expert and capable in his office that it might as well have been a garment sewn especially for him. At the age of ninety he was more nimble than youths of fourteen. He had the honour to serve my grandfather, my father, and me. Until the moment he died he was not for one instant without the pleasure of wine. "

INSCRIPTIONS:

The partial inscription probably reads shabīh-i Pishraw Khān (likeness of Pishraw Khan)