Folio from the Nuzhatnama-yi ala’i (Excellent book of counsel) by Shahmardan ibn Abi al-khayr, recto: text and illustration: cock pheasant; verso: text and illustration: duck

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 naskhi 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.

Maker(s)
Author: Shahmardan ibn Abi al-Khayr
Historical period(s)
Timurid period, probably 15th century
Medium
Opaque watercolor and ink on paper
Dimensions
H x W: 24.5 x 16.2 cm (9 5/8 x 6 3/8 in)
Geography
Iran
Credit Line
Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art
Accession Number
F1947.21
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Manuscript
Type

Manuscript folio

Keywords
duck, Iran, naskh script, pheasant, Timurid period (1378 - 1506)
Provenance
Provenance research underway.
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 naskhi 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.

Published References
  • Smithsonian Institution. Report of the Secretary, 1946-1947. Washington. pl. 1.
  • Edgar Blochet. Catalogue of an Exhibition of Persian Paintings...held at the Gallery Demotte Inc. Exh. cat. New York. cat. 46, pp. 6, 20.
Collection Area(s)
Arts of the Islamic World
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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