Bookbinding with Animals in a Landscape

mid-16th century

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 463

This bookbinding is a rare example surviving from the Akbar period. Although the contents of the manuscript it covered are now dispersed, it once contained the Persian poet Jami’s retelling of the tale of Yusuf and Zulayka from the Qur’an. Depictions of predators chasing and attacking prey were painted and gilded onto a papier-mâché surface that was then lacquered to produce a durable finish. Green and gold cartouches decorate the leather doublures of the interior.

Artwork Details

Object Information

Overview

Provenance

Exhibition History

References

Title: Bookbinding with Animals in a Landscape
Date: mid-16th century
Geography: Made in India
Medium: Leather and papier-maché; painted, gilded, and lacquered
Dimensions: L. 10 1/4 in (26 cm)
W. (closed): 6 in. (15.2 cm)
W. (open): 13 in. (33 cm)
Classification: Codices
Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1949
Object Number: 49.140a, b
Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

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Author Amir Khusrau Dihlavi
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Flap of a Bookbinding (Jild-i kitab), Leather, paper; painted, gilded, and lacquered — Flap of a Bookbinding (Jild-i kitab)
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"Akbar With Lion and Calf", Folio from the Shah Jahan Album, Govardhan, Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper — "Akbar With Lion and Calf", Folio from the Shah Jahan Album
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Bookbinding (Jild-i kitab), Leather; stamped and gilded — Bookbinding (Jild-i kitab)
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