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

Detail of a pattern
Image 1 of 2
IIIF

Terms of Use

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At A Glance

  • Period

    early 14th century
  • Geography

    Iran
  • Material

    Ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper
  • Dimension

    H x W: 10.7 x 10 cm (4 3/16 x 3 15/16 in)
  • Accession Number

    F1928.6
  • EDAN ID

    edanmdm:fsg_F1928.6

Object Details

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Collection

    Freer Gallery of Art Collection
  • Exhibition History

    Near Eastern Art—Paintings, Metalwork (August 18, 1967 to February 10, 1972)
    Near Eastern Pottery and Persian Painting (May 2, 1923 to March 14, 1931)
  • Previous custodian or owner

    Hagop Kevorkian (1872-1962)
  • Origin

    Iran
  • Credit Line

    Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment
  • Type

    Manuscript
  • Restrictions and Rights

    Usage Conditions Apply

    There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

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