Folio from a Manuscript of 'Aja'ib al-Makhluqat (The Wonders of Creation) - Map of the Arabian Peninsula
Illuminated manuscript folio on paper • Anonymous artist and scribe, likely Persian school (possibly Isfahan or Shiraz workshops)
Style & Movement
Islamic Art, Late Safavid style of manuscript illumination
Medium & Technique
Opaque pigments and gold on paper; calligraphy in Naskh script using carbon black ink; map rendered with geometric abstraction and stylized cartography
Creation Period
Late 17th to early 18th century (Safavid or early Qajar era)
Dimensions & Format
Estimated 25 x 35 cm (as an open spread); vertical portrait bifolium
Subject Description
A world map or regional chart (likely the Arabian Peninsula and surrounding seas) characteristic of the Zakariya al-Qazwini tradition. The left page displays a schematic map with blue bodies of water, gold and colorful circular city markers, and red architectural motifs. The right page contains text in Persian/Arabic with a decorative gilded headpiece (unwan) at the bottom.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Fair to Good; shows significant signs of age and wear consistent with its era
Estimated Market Value
$4,000 - $7,000 USD for a single bifolium spread
Auction Estimate
$3,000 - $6,000 USD
Provenance History
Likely originated in a private library in Iran; subsequently moved through the international antiquities market. Visible numbering suggests a former institutional or catalogued collection.
Art Historical Significance
Represents the continuity of the medieval Islamic cosmological and geographical tradition. Qazwini's 'The Wonders of Creation' was one of the most popular scientific/marvel texts in the Islamic world, and this spread illustrates how cartographical knowledge was synthesized with decorative arts.
Notable Features
The map's use of non-perspectival geometry and symbolic color coding is a classic feature of Islamic cartography. The bottom gilded panel is a high-quality example of 'unwan' illumination using genuine gold leaf.
Condition Issues
Notable foxing and staining throughout; heavy thumbing and grime at the edges; partial loss of pigment in the blue map areas; vertical crease/binding stress; paper thinning and minor losses at the periphery.
Conservation Recommendations
Professional cleaning and stabilization of the paper; storage in an acid-free archival mount; controlled environment with 50% relative humidity; limited UV exposure to prevent further fading of organic pigments.