Folio from Kitab fi ma’arifat al-hiyal al-handisaya (the book of knowledge of ingenious mechanical devices) Automata by al-Jazari (d.1206); A musical toy in the form of a boat; reverse: text

Detached folio from a dispersed copy of the Kitab fi ma’arifat al-hiyal al-handisaya (The book of knowledge of ingenious mechanical devices), “Automata,” by al-Jazari; text: Arabic in black naskh script; A musical toy in the form of a boat; reverse: text, one column, 21 lines; one of a group of 8 folios.

Maker(s)
Calligrapher: Farruq ibn Abd al-Latif
Historical period(s)
Mamluk period, 1315 (715 A.H.)
Medium
Ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper
Dimensions
H x W: 30.2 x 21.7 cm (11 7/8 x 8 9/16 in)
Geography
probably Syria
Credit Line
Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art Collection
Accession Number
F1930.73
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Manuscript
Type

Manuscript folio

Keywords
automata, boat, engineering, Mamluk period (1250 - 1517), music, naskh script, Syria
Provenance

To 1930
Hagop Kevorkian (1872-1962), New York to 1930 [1]

From 1930
Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from Hagop Kevorkian, New York in 1930 [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 the Kitab fi ma'arifat al-hiyal al-handisaya (The book of knowledge of ingenious mechanical devices), "Automata,” by al-Jazari; text: Arabic in black naskh script; A musical toy in the form of a boat; reverse: text, one column, 21 lines; one of a group of 8 folios.

Published References
  • L.A. Mayer. Mamluk Costume: A Survey. Geneva. pl. 15.
  • Anna Contadini. The Kitab Manafi 'al Hayawan in the Escorial Library. no. 3. p. 43.
  • Dr. Esin Atil. Art of the Arab World. Exh. cat. Washington, 1975. cat. 47, p. 106.
  • The Book of Ingenious Devices [Kitab al-hiyal]. Dordrecht, Holland and Boston. p. 220, pl. 14.
Collection Area(s)
Arts of the Islamic World
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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