- 18
Qur'an section in gold muhaqqaq script on paper, Egypt or Syria, Mamluk, circa 1325-1350
Description
28 folios, five lines per page written in fine gold muhaqqaq script on cream paper, diacritics in gold, illuminated roundels containing the word 'aya' between verses, fifth and tenth verse divisions marked in margins with large illuminated devices containing the word khamsa' or ' `ashr' respectively, sura headings written in white eastern Kufic script on illuminated panels, opening double page of fine illumination in blue and gold, with interlinear floral designs in ink on a ground of faint cross-hatching, opening page with an illuminated shamsa containing the Juz' title (al-Juz' al-Hadi wa `Ashruwn), binding consisting of two contemporary brown morocco covers from different manuscripts with tooled and stamped decoration
Provenance
Provenance: Sold in these rooms, 18th October 1995, lot 25.
Catalogue Note
This is a very fine example of high quality Mamluk manuscript production. Qur'ans in which the text itself, rather than just the sura titles and incidentals, is written in gold are extremely rare. This example is written in a very fine muhaqqaq script entirely in gold, including the letter-pointing and vocalisation. The illumination is also of a high quality, and the paper on which it is written is thick and finely burnished. The binding, while not original, utilizes two covers from the same period as the manuscript, and the text block has obviously been in this particular binding for a considerable time, as the sewing of the spine is old and worn, and the text block has come loose.
The general format and style of illumination point to a date in the second quarter of the 14th century, at a time when the Mamluk dynasty was at its height. A particular strength of Mamluk artistic production was that of manuscripts, particularly Qur'ans. This may have been related to the Mamluks Sultans' status as defenders and upholders of Islam and their role as custodians of the three holiest sites of Islam - Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem, all of which were inside the borders of their empire.
Related Mamluk Qur'ans, some written in gold, can be found as follows: Lings and Safadi, no.75; James 1988, cats.17,18,20,21; Lings 2005, nos.42,97-98,113-121.
Another section from the same Qur'an was sold at Christie's, London, 11th June 1986, lot 65.