A FINE AND LARGE QUR'AN ATTRIBUTABLE TO RUZBIHAN MUHAMMAD, PERSIA, SAFAVID, PROBABLY SHIRAZ, EARLY 16TH CENTURY

305 leaves, 13 lines per page, first and last lines written in large muhaqqaq script in blue ink, middle line written in gold muhaqqaq script, intervening lines written in fine, small naskhi script in black ink on gold-sprinkled paper, gold roundels between verses, lateral panels of floral illumination within text area, fifth and tenth verses marked in margins with illuminated roundels, sura headings written in white or gold thuluth script on finely illuminated panels of floral illumination, three opening double pages of fine illumination, including a double-page shamsa, central double page fully illuminated at Surat al-Kahf, three illuminated double pages at end with closing prayer and Falnama, later Indian gilt-stamped red morocco binding, with flap

In good condition, some rubbing and losses to cover, but gold still bright. There are some nibbles, staining and wormholes to the pages with associated repairs, but the colours and gold are still bright and legible, as viewed.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This is an extremely fine manuscript of the Qur'an, written in an excellent hand and with profuse and exquisite illumination. The sheer quality of the production of the present Qur'an is noteworthy. The text of the Qur'an is written in a variety of finely executed scripts in a variety of colours. The manuscript contains seven fully illuminated double pages, and the illumination is executed with breathtaking skill. Even under strong magnification the floral motifs and split palmettes lose none of their crispness and detail, and indeed some of the painting is so finely applied as to be almost invisible except under magnification. Other characteristics of the quality are the use of two tones of gold and the stippling effect applied to certain areas of the gold grounds by impressing a rounded point into the paper. This latter trait was only seen on the finest examples of illumination.

The illumination in this manuscript is of a style associated with early Safavid manuscript production, and there are several aspects that link it more specifically to the work of Ruzbihan Muhammad (active 1514-47), the well-known master scribe and illuminator of early 16th century Shiraz. Characteristics that can be directly compared to Ruzbihan's work are as follows:
1. The strong use of broad areas of red ground in the illumination, seen here in the sura headings and lateral panels, for example, on folios 3b-4a, 299a, 300b, are seen in very similar displays in the signed Ruzbihan manuscript in the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin (see Arberry 1967, pl.7) and the signed manuscript in the Nasser D Khalili Collection (see James 1992, p.154).
2. The geometric framework of the frontispiece of the present manuscript, which also appears on the frontispiece of the signed Ruzbihan Qur'an in the Khalili Collection (see James 1992, p.146-7), and is also used in a strikingly similar design on a manuscript of the Kulliyat of Jami of Shirazi origin dated 947/1540 (when Ruzbihan was still active), sold in these rooms 14 October 1999, lot 23.
3. The style of the opening shamsas, which is close to those on the signed Chester Beatty Library manuscript (see James 1980, p.77) and the attributed manuscript in the Sackler Gallery, Washington D.C. (see Lowry and Nemazee 1988, pl.65).
4. The style of central illuminated double page of the present manuscript is very close to the finispiece of the signed Chester Beatty Library Qur'an (Arberry 1967, pl.7).

For a detailed discussion of Ruzbihan and a list of signed and attributed manuscripts see James 1992, pp.144-163.