Ajayibul-Buldan, Wonders Of The World
Artist
Sheikh Adhary
CultureIndian | Persian | Nastiliq
Date9th century
MediumPaper
DimensionsOverall: 11 3/8 x 7 1/2 in. (28.9 x 19.1 cm)
InscribedNote II - Written in pencil on plain side of front lining leaf: "578/Ajayyib ul Buldan - On the Marvels of the World written in Persian by the Sheikh Adri Saec XVIII 51 fine and unusual miniatures."
Credit LineGift of Mr. W. Melvin V. Gutman
Object number58.24.3
Collections
Not on view
Description46-page Indian manuscript, written in Persian, called AJAYIBUL-BULDAN, WONDERS OF THE WORLD. The author was Sheikh Adhary of Hijreh who died in 866, according to Dowlatshah of the 16th century. The manuscript is written in Nastaliq and is similar to many recorded in Kazoines Cosmography. It is a combination of Natural History and Geography and gives accounts of miraculous places, mines, plants, animals, birds, fish, dress, customs, and prodigies, and sports 51 fine colored drawings in gold and colors. Also has two gold ground pages.Exhibition HistoryExhibited Norfolk Museum Gallery H, February 1958. Published ReferencesIllustrated in SPHINXES AND HARPIES IN MEDIEVAL ISLAMIC ART, by Eva Baer, The Hague, p. 21.
