Folio from Kitab fi ma'arifat al-hiyal al-handisaya (The book of knowledge of ingenious mechanical devices) Automata by al-Jazari (died 1206); recto: text; verso: text and illustration: The water clock of the drummers

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; recto: text, 20 lines; verso: illustration and text: The water clock of the drummers, 3 lines; one of a group of 8 folios.

• Label

  Commonly referred to as the Automata, al-Jaziri's fascinating text is devoted to the construction of fifty mechanical devices, including fountains, clocks, pitchers, and gates. The first section describes a variety of clocks, fueled by either heat or water. According to al-Jaziri, at every hour the figure on the parapet of this elaborate and playful device moves one crenellation. The falcon in the center drops a ball from its beak into the vessel below, setting off a chime that in turn signals the musicians to play.

  Although intended primarily as an illusrative diagram, the composition's overall execution, especially the animated group of musicians, attests to the artistic sophistication of early Arab painting.

• Provenance

  To 1942

  Dikran G. Kelekian, Inc., New York to 1942 [1]

  From 1942

  Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from Dikran G. Kelekian, Inc. in 1942 [2]

  Notes:

  [1] See Freer Gallery or Art Purchase List after 1920, Collections Management Office.

  [2] See note 1.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Arts of the Islamic World (May 3, 1998 to January 3, 2016)

  Art of the Mamluks (May 14, 1981 to May 25, 1982)

  Art of the Arab World (August 15, 1980 to May 13, 1981)

  Art of the Arab World (May 8, 1975 to August 20, 1977)

  Near Eastern Art—Paintings, Metalwork (August 18, 1967 to February 10, 1972)

  Near Eastern Art (January 1, 1963 to August 18, 1967)

  Centennial Exhibition, Galleries 6 and 7 (February 25, 1956 to April 10, 1962)

  Untitled Exhibition, Persian Manuscripts (May 5, 1933 to September 22, 1947)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Dikran G. Kelekian, Inc.

• Origin

  Probably Syria

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Manuscript

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1300s

• Name

  Dikran G. Kelekian, Inc.

• Topic

  Horn, Art, Mamluk period (1250 - 1517), Automata, Arts of the Islamic World, Water clock

• Culture

  Muslims, Syrians

• Language

  Naskh script

• Object Type

  Manuscripts