Badi' al-Zaman ibn al-Razzaz al-Jazari

Badi' al-Zaman ibn al-Razzaz al-Jazari was an influential figure active around 1290, primarily known through the documentation of his mechanical designs and illustrations. The core of his recognized output comes from his treatise, the Kitab fi ma'rifat al-hiyal al-handasiyya (Book of the Knowledge of Ingenious Mechanical Devices).

Five specific manuscript folios attributed to Badi' al-Zaman ibn al-Razzaz al-Jazari are currently represented in museum collections, establishing his importance in the history of Islamic engineering and illustrative art. These works include detailed diagrams such as Design for a Clock in the Form of an Elephant with an Indian Driver, Design for the Water Clock of the Peacocks, and Design on Each Side for Waterwheel Worked by Donkey Power. These precise technical illustrations provide rare insight into medieval clockworks and automata.

Additional designs held in collections, such as Figure for Use at Drinking Parties and Design for a Cup to Serve Wine at Drinking Parties, demonstrate the breadth of his mechanical ingenuity across both practical and ceremonial applications. High-quality prints of these pivotal historical manuscripts are preserved and accessible, cementing al-Jazari’s reputation as a key innovator. Today, his mechanical and illustrative designs are available through the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which holds examples of his work. Scholars often seek out Badi' al-Zaman ibn al-Razzaz al-Jazari prints for their historical and technical accuracy, with many becoming royalty-free resources for study.