ILLUSTRATED PALM LEAF MANUSCRIPT OF A ROMANTIC TEXT

An illustrated palm leaf manuscript, 23 leaves. In Fair condition. The front board bears the remains of painted ornamentation, now mostly obscured. All leaves with chipping and wear to edges, ranging from light to moderate, not impacting the legibility of the text, but at times impacting the borders and outer edges of the illustrations. Some leaves with minor insect damage, not impacting legibility of text, and all leaves with chipping around the central hole, in some cases significant enough to impact the legibility of the text and the integrity of the images. Several leaves cracked. The rear board is lacking, but the text appears to be complete as the verso of the final leaf is blank. SH Consignment.

1366880

Special Collections

Price: $3,000

NOTES

This manuscript, originating in Odisha and written in Odia, contains extracts from a romantic text, possibly the Gita Govinda. The eighth leaf is blank on the verso, suggesting that the text contains two distinct components. Both are profusely illustrated with detailed black ink images. The date of this text is uncertain.

John C. Huntington, a professor of art history specializing in Tibetan Buddhist art, acquired this text as a part of his personal study collection. In addition to relying on the collection for his own research and publications, he also incorporated it into his seminar courses and other teaching and mentoring during his long career at the Ohio State University.