Folio from Kitab fi ma'arifat al-hiyal al-handisaya (The book of knowledge of ingenious mechanical devices), “Automata," by al-Jazari (d. 1206); recto: part of a water-clock, with a man seated; verso: text

Object Details

• Description

  Detached folio from a dispersed copy of Kitab fi ma'arifat al-hiyal al-handisaya (The book of knowledge of ingenious mechanical devices) "Automata" by al-Jazari; text: Arabic in black naskhi script; recto: Part of a water-clock, with a man seated; verso: text, one column, 15 lines.

• Provenance

  Fredrik Robert Martin (1868-1933) [1]

  To 1932

  H. Sevadjian, Paris to 1932 [2]

  From 1932

  Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from H. Sevadjian, Paris in 1932 through K. Minassian [3]

  Notes:

  [1] Object file, undated folder sheet note. See also Martin, F.R. The Miniature Painting and Painters of Persia, India and Turkey, London, 1912; vol. I.

  [2] Object file, undated folder sheet note. See also Freer Gallery of Art Purchase List file, Collections Management Office.

  [3] See note 2.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Art of the Court of Shah Tahmasp (December 16, 1979 to August 14, 1980)

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

  Untitled Exhibition, Islamic Manuscripts, 1955 (April 12, 1955 to December 16, 1955)

  Untitled Exhibition, Islamic Manuscripts, 1947 (October 6, 1947 to February 25, 1956)

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

• Previous custodian or owner

  Fredrik Robert Martin (1868-1933)

  Hatchik Sevadjian (born 1884)

• Origin

  Egypt

• 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

  Martin, Fredrik Robert, Sevadjian, Hatchik

• Place

  Egypt

• Topic

  Art, Mamluk period (1250 - 1517), Balconies, Automata, Arts of the Islamic World

• Culture

  Muslims

• Object Type

  Manuscripts