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Peacock-shaped Hand Washing Device (recto); Text Page, Arabic Prose (verso), 1315
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Peacock-shaped Hand Washing Device (recto); Text Page, Arabic Prose (verso), 1315
Peacock-shaped Hand Washing Device (recto); Text Page, Arabic Prose (verso), 1315. This leaf from a 1315 Syrian copy of Ibn al-Razzaz al-Jazaris The Book of Knowledge of Ingenious Mechanical Devices, written in 1206, depicts a peacock basin automaton for ritual hand washing. There are 15 surviving manuscript copies of al-Jazaris work, ranging from the early 13th to the late 19th century. An engineer from upper Mesopotamia, al-Jazari was in the service of King Nasri al-Din when he completed his masterwork, an anthology of automated devices including clocks, trick vessels for drinking sessions, devices for washing, fountains, water-raising machines, and measuring instruments. His designs clearly illustrate that automata were not innovations from Western Europe, but they stemmed from a tradition known in the ancient, Islamic, and Byzantine worlds. We do not know with certainty that al-Jazaris device was ever actually constructed
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Media ID 19640724
© Heritage Art/Heritage Images
Damascus Mamluk Period Opaque Watercolour And Gold On Paper Syria
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This print showcases a remarkable artifact from the 14th century - a peacock-shaped hand washing device. The image, captured by Heritage Art/Heritage Images, features the recto side of the leaf which displays this ingenious mechanical creation, while on the verso side lies an Arabic prose text page. The artwork originates from a Syrian copy of Ibn al-Razzaz al-Jazari's renowned manuscript, "The Book of Knowledge of Ingenious Mechanical Devices" written in 1206. Created in 1315, this particular leaf provides us with a glimpse into al-Jazari's imaginative mind and his expertise as an engineer hailing from upper Mesopotamia. Al-Jazari's masterwork encompasses an anthology of automated devices that span various functionalities including clocks, trick vessels for drinking sessions, fountains, water-raising machines, measuring instruments - and notably showcased here - devices for ritual hand washing. This peacock basin automaton is truly awe-inspiring; its intricate design and functionality are testament to the advanced technological knowledge present during that era. It is important to note that there are only fifteen surviving manuscript copies of al-Jazari's work known today. These manuscripts range from the early 13th century all the way up to the late 19th century. Through these surviving copies and their detailed illustrations, we gain valuable insights into how automata were not exclusive innovations originating solely from Western Europe but had deep roots within ancient Islamic and Byzantine traditions. Although it remains uncertain whether al-Jazari's peacock-shaped hand washing device was ever physically constructed or used practically during its time, its existence serves as a testament to human ingenuity throughout history.
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