Description:

 A RARE FOLIO FROM KITAB AL-BAYTARA (TREATISE ON HORSE MEDICINE)
By Ahmad ibn al-Husayn ibn al-Ahnaf, Islamic World, circa 14th century

Description:
A rare and scientifically valuable illustrated folio from the classical Islamic veterinary treatise Kitab al-Baytara, attributed to Ahmad ibn al-Husayn ibn al-Ahnaf, one of the earliest Islamic authorities on equine medicine. This folio presents a beautifully stylized depiction of a chestnut horse, rendered in delicate brown and ochre wash with blue and white hooves, and framed within an outlined border. The accompanying Arabic text is written in black naskh script, offering detailed anatomical and medical descriptions for identifying and treating horse ailments.

Texts such as this were widely used by veterinary practitioners, horse breeders, and military stables throughout the Islamic world. This particular folio offers insight into early Islamic anatomical illustration, especially with respect to horse breeds and traits desirable for cavalry use and equestrian care.

The careful combination of illustration and script reflects both scientific accuracy and artistic elegance, hallmarks of Islamic manuscripts from this period.

Dimensions:

  • Manuscript Page: 32.5 x 22.5 cm

  • Illustrated Folio Frame: 21 x 16 cm

Comparable Examples:

  • An illustrated copy of Kitab al-Khayl by al-Ahwas in the British Library, dated to the Mamluk period.

  • A manuscript folio from Baytarat al-Kabir, sold at Sotheby’s, London, 2015, for £17,500.

  • A 13th-century Andalusian veterinary treatise fragment from the Bibliothèque nationale de France, often referenced in academic works on early Islamic science.

Note:
Folia from equine medical treatises are rarely encountered on the open market, particularly examples with illustrations in near-complete condition. This folio would appeal to collectors of Islamic science, manuscript illustration, and the history of veterinary medicine.

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May 6, 2025 1:00 PM BST
London, United Kingdom

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