Folio from a Manafi’ al-hayawan (Usefulness of animals) by Ibn Bakhtishu (d.1058); recto: Magpies and scorpions; verso: text, Characteristics of scorpion and crab

Detached folio from a dispersed copy of Manafi’ al-hayawan (Usefulness of animals) by Ibn Bakhtishu; text: Persian in black naskh script with title in blue kufic script; recto: illustration and text: Magpies and scorpions, one column, 13 lines; verso: text: Characteristics of scorpion and crab, one column, 12 lines; one of a group of 6 folios.
Border: the text and the painting have been remargined and mounted on another paper.

Historical period(s)
Il-Khanid dynasty, Mongol period, early 14th century
Medium
Ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper
Dimensions
H x W: 10.7 x 10 cm (4 3/16 x 3 15/16 in)
Geography
Iran
Credit Line
Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art Collection
Accession Number
F1928.6
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Manuscript
Type

Manuscript folio

Keywords
bird, crab, Il-Khanid dynasty (1256 - 1353), Iran, Mongol period (1220 - 1380), naskh script, scorpion
Provenance

To 1928
Hagop Kevorkian (1872-1962), New York to 1928 [1]

From 1928
Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from Hagop Kevorkian, New York in 1928 [2]

Notes:

[1] Object file, undated folder sheet note. See also Freer Gallery of Art Purchase List file, Collections Management Office.

[2] See note 1.

Previous Owner(s) and Custodian(s)

Hagop Kevorkian 1872-1962

Description

Detached folio from a dispersed copy of Manafi' al-hayawan (Usefulness of animals) by Ibn Bakhtishu; text: Persian in black naskh script with title in blue kufic script; recto: illustration and text: Magpies and scorpions, one column, 13 lines; verso: text: Characteristics of scorpion and crab, one column, 12 lines; one of a group of 6 folios.
Border: the text and the painting have been remargined and mounted on another paper.

Published References
  • Hagop Kevorkian. Exhibition of the Kevorkian Collection Including Objects Excavated Under His Supervision. New York. cat. 27.
Collection Area(s)
Arts of the Islamic World
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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