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

Detail of a pattern
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At A Glance

  • Period

    December 1315 (Ramadan 715 A.H.)
  • Geography

    Probably Syria
  • Material

    Opaque watercolor, ink, and gold on paper
  • Dimension

    H x W: 30.2 x 21.7 cm (11 7/8 x 8 9/16 in)
  • Accession Number

    F1930.73
  • EDAN ID

    edanmdm:fsg_F1930.73

Object Details

  • Calligrapher

    Farruq ibn Abd al-Latif
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Collection

    Freer Gallery of Art Collection
  • Exhibition History

    Art of the Arab World (May 8, 1975 to August 20, 1977)
    Untitled Exhibition, Persian Manuscripts (May 5, 1933 to September 22, 1947)
  • Previous custodian or owner

    Hagop Kevorkian (1872-1962)
  • Origin

    Probably Syria
  • Credit Line

    Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment
  • Type

    Manuscript
  • Restrictions and Rights

    Usage Conditions Apply

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