Go to AfricaBib home

Go to AfricaBib home Africana Periodical Literature Go to database home

bibliographic database
Line
Previous page New search

The free AfricaBib App for Android is available here

Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Secular Themes in Ethiopian Ecclesiastical Manuscripts: An Catalogue of Illustrations of Historical and Ethnographic Interest in the British Library
Author:Pankhurst, RichardISNI
Year:1989
Periodical:Journal of Ethiopian Studies
Volume:22
Period:November
Pages:31-64
Language:English
Notes:biblio. refs., ills.
Geographic terms:Ethiopia
Northeast Africa
Subjects:manuscripts
Gondar polity
painting
history
1600-1699
1700-1799
Religion and Witchcraft
History and Exploration
Architecture and the Arts
Art, Architecture, Music, Drama
Church records and registers
Ethnography
Illustrations
External link:https://www.jstor.org/stable/41965977
Abstract:The manuscript illustrations of the Gondär period, which began in the early 17th century and extended to the late 18th or even early 19th century, are important for their representations of contemporary life in Ethiopia. A sizeable proportion of the best illustrated Gondärine manuscripts found their way to the British Library, which now houses some 75 such works. This study examines the manuscript illustrations at the British Library in order to see to what extent, and in which fields, they serve to document Ethiopian traditional social and cultural life. The discussion is arranged subject-wise as follows: Ethiopian historical figures; the household; agriculture and livestock; forestry, fishing and transportation; natural history; clothing, hairstyles and jewellery; warfare, weapons and tools; the arts; Church and State; social and cultural life; disease and disability; palace and church buildings and their construction. References have been added to some published illustrations from the British Library, as well as in the collection of Lady Meux, which once formed part of Emperor Téwodros's library at Mäqdäla. Reference is also made to manuscript illustrations published in Sotheby's sales catalogues. Ref.
Views
Cover