A large illuminated Qur'an, India, Deccan, late 16th century

Arabic manuscript on paper, 267 leaves plus 2 flyleaves, 11 lines to the page, written in black naskh script, verses separated by segmented roundels, surah headings in larger red or blue thuluth script against gold-ground panels with polychrome vines, fifth verses marked by a red 'khamsa' in the margins, tenth by 'ashr' above an illuminated roundel, ff.1b and 2a with large illuminated shamsas enclosing white thuluth text, following double page with illuminated frontispiece in colours and gold comprising a rigorous interlace of chinoiserie cloud bands, split-palmettes and vines, following page with en suite headpiece for title of surah al-baqarah, illuminated double page of prayers at the end with later ascription to Ahmed Ibn Ilyas and date 921 AH, followed by a Persian-versed falnameh, brown leather binding with gilt stamped calligraphic cartouches and central panels of foliage, doublures with cut-leather filigree decoration

In reasonably good overall condition, spine repaired, numerous marginal paper repairs, particularly at beginning and end, losses to doublure filigree, occasional stains, pages generally clean and illumination bright, as viewed.
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