Islamic Art and Fine Objects
Lot 147:
Description
AN ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT LEAVES FROM THE KITAB SUWAR AL-KAWAKIB AL-THABITA BY ABD AL-RAHMAN AL-SUFI, CENTRAL ASIAN, 15TH – 16TH CENTURY
An illuminated manuscript leaves from a version of Abd al-Rahman al-Sufi’s Kitab suwar al-kawakib al-thabita (Book of Fixed Stars). The leaves are executed in ink, watercolor, and gold leaf on paper. One leaf depicts the constellation Canis Major (the Great Dog) as a horned, quadrupedal creature. The second leaf illustrates the constellation Lepus (the Hare) in two distinct orientations. Each figure is annotated with gilt circles representing individual stars and accompanied by Arabic text in naskh script. Red-ink headings identify the celestial bodies as seen on the globe (ala ma yura fi al-kura) and as seen in the sky (ala ma yura fi al-sama). Both leaves are set within simple black borders and mounted on larger cardstock supports.
18.5 x 10cm
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