Asvasastram (1 results)

Oblong, 250 x 135 mm. 38 ff. Accordion-folding book. Sanskrit manuscript on dyed yellow paper. Black newari script. With 104 miniatures of horses, 6 very large miniatures of horses each taking up two pages, and three full pages of further illustrations. Contemporary red morocco. With over one hundred miniatures of horses, this lavishly illustrated text is a work on veterinary science from the Nepalese manuscript tradition. Six of the hand-painted miniatures are uncommonly large, spanning two pages, and each of the 110 miniatures is unique from the rest, and shows a particular equine trait or malady. - The Asvasastra is a brief treatise on equine science, bringing together information from works of ancient Indian veterinary specialists such as Salihotra (3rd century BCE) to describe the scientific aspects of horses and horse care, from coat colours to gait, age, the defects of certain breeds, preventative medicine, and more. A comparable Asvasastra manuscript is found in the Schoyen Collection (MS 2176), also dating to 18th century Nepal, and decorated with 49 miniatures. By comparison, the present manuscript is notable for the great quantity as well as the size of its miniatures, reflecting the long history of equine veterinary science in the Indian subcontinent and Nepal. - Covers a bit worn and soiled; a few miniatures lightly rubbed, some edgewear. In good condition. - Cf. Schoyen MS 2176.