A QUR'AN LEAF IN KUFIC SCRIPT ON VELLUM, NORTH AFRICA OR LEVANT, 10TH CENTURY

text: surat al-muminin (xxiii), vv.74-76
3 lines per page written in dark brown ink on vellum, vocalisation of red and green dots, letter pointing of diagonal brown dashes, single verses marked by a pyramidal arrangement of six gold dots, tenth verse division marked a large gold rosette bearing the word khamsa in Kufic script in reserve

Published in 1400 Years of Islamic Art, 1981, no.9.

In good overall condition, has recently undergone a light clean, verso with strong ink and bright gold illumination, vellum clean and fresh, darkened border at edge, recto with some losses to the ink and some small stains and scuffs, border stains, small losses to corners, otherwise good, 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 leaf comes from an important Qur'an notable for its unusually attenuated and elegant script.  The pertinent features which set it apart from normal Kufic are the very tall verticals, the wide, curving terminal nun and the thin, trailing tail of the terminal mim.  This particular form of the Kufic script is only found  in two other known Qur'ans.  Examples of these can be found in this sale, lots 11 and 12, and in the National Library, Tunis (Rutbi 52, Lings and Safadi 1976, no.24), the Musée des arts Islamiques, Qairawan (Carthage, no.9), the Staatsbibliothek, Berlin (Ms.or.fol.1391, see Berlin 1980, no.35) and Sotheby's London, 12th October 2000, lots 30-31 (where further references are given).

Other leaves from this Qur'an are in the Al-Sabah Collection, Kuwait (al-Andalus, fig.1, p.117), and the Tareq Rajab Museum, Kuwait, and the Nasser D Khalili Collection, London (Déroche 1992, no.58).  Further leaves have been sold in these rooms, most recently 12th October 2005, lots 1 and 2.

For a full discussion of the script of this Qur'an and other related examples see Fraser and Kwiatowski 2006, nos.13 and 14.