One of a Pair of Jain Manuscript Covers (Patli)

Art Historical Context

This elegant wooden panel, created in early twelfth-century Gujarat, served as a protective cover—known as a *patli*—for a Jain religious manuscript. In medieval western India, such covers shielded sacred texts from dust and handling while also offering devotees an immediate visual introduction to the manuscript’s spiritual content. Gujarat’s prosperous trading communities generously supported Jain temples and libraries, fostering a rich tradition of manuscript production that blended piety with refined craftsmanship. Painted in opaque watercolor directly onto wood, the cover features delicat...