Folio from the Nuzhatnama-yi ala'i (Excellent book of counsel) by Shahmardan ibn Abi al-khayr,
Terms of Use
Usage Conditions ApplyAt A Glance
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Period
probably late 16th century-early 17th century -
Geography
Iran -
Material
Opaque watercolor and ink on paper -
Dimension
H x W: 24.5 x 16.2 cm (9 5/8 x 6 3/8 in) -
Accession Number
F1947.21 -
EDAN ID
edanmdm:fsg_F1947.21
Object Details
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Author
Shahmardan ibn Abi al-Khayr -
Description
Detached folio from a dispersed copy of Nuzhatnama-yi ala'i (Excellent book of counsel) by Shahmardan ibn Abi al-Khayr; text: Persian in black and red naskh script; recto: illustration and text: cock pheasant,16 lines; verso: illustration and text: duck, their habitat and mating rituals;16 lines; one of a group of three folios. -
Label
Composed in Persian in the second half of the eleventh century, the Nuzhatnama-yi ala'i (Excellent book of counsel), includes a bestiary as well as discussion of trees, plants, and minerals. The present folio is devoted to a description of ducks, their attributes, habitat, and mating ritual. The small illustration inserted into the text is characteristic of the schematic yet lively imagery found in this genre of popular medieval literature. -
Provenance
By at least 1928-?Demotte Inc., New York, method of acquisition unknown [1]About 1929-1946Ownership information unknownBy at least 1946-1947Heeramaneck Galleries, New York, method of acquisition unknown [2]From 1947Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from Heeramaneck Galleries, New York [3]Notes:[1] See E. Blochet, “Catalog of an Exhibition of Persian Paintings from the XIIth to the XVIIIth cent., formerly from the Collections of the Shahs of Persia and the Great Moguls, held at the Galleries of Demotte, inc.” [catalog] (Demotte Inc.: New York, 1928), cat. 46, pp. 6, 20.[2] See copy of July 27, 1946 Heeramaneck Galleries letter in object file listing items delivered to Freer Gallery of Art for examination. Last item listed notes: “1. A leaf from a Persian manuscript on the Marvels of Nature, on one side of the leaf a duck & the other side a rooster with spread wings on the point of taking off for flight. Persian 15th century”.[3] See object file for copy of Heeramaneck Galleries invoice to Freer Gallery of Art, dated September 24, 1947, and marked approved on February 25, 1947.Research updated February 8, 2023 -
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art Collection -
Exhibition History
Engaging the Senses (October 14, 2017 - ongoing)Arts of the Islamic World (May 3, 1998 to January 3, 2016) -
Previous custodian or owner
Demotte, Inc.Heeramaneck Galleries (active 1928-1964) -
Origin
Iran -
Credit Line
Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment -
Type
Manuscript -
Restrictions and Rights
Usage Conditions Apply
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