Islamic Art and Fine Objects
Lot 150:
Description
AN ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT LEAF FROM ABD AL-RAHMAN AL-SUFI’S KITAB SUWAR AL-KAWAKIB DEPICTING THE CONSTELLATION OF CANCER, CENTRAL ASIAN, 15TH – 16TH CENTURY
This illuminated manuscript leaf fragment is from an Islamic astronomical treatise, identified as Abd al-Rahman al-Sufi’s Kitab suwar al-kawakib, also known as the Book of Fixed Stars. The central illustration depicts the zodiac constellation of Cancer, or Al-Saratan. The figure is rendered in ink and pigments with gold accents, showing a stylized crab with a segmented body, two pincers, and articulated legs. Star positions are indicated by small yellow circles and red dots. The Arabic inscription at the top in red Naskh script reads Surat al-Saratan ala ma yura fi al-kura, which translates to The image of Cancer as seen on the globe. Faint background script and numerical annotations in red and black ink are visible. The fragment is executed on paper and is mounted on a secondary tan paper support.
19 x 10cm
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