A COTTON QUR'AN JAMA, INDIA, SULTANATE, LATE 14TH-15TH CENTURY

A talismanic shirt entirely inscribed with the text of the Qur'an, the main text written in ghubar script in black ink in rectangular compartments with ruled borders and blue and red roundels at each corner, the compartments at each end terminating in semi-circular cusps infilled with red dotted motifs, sura headings written in red within the text compartments, the main field punctuated by two large roundels containing the shahada written in tall gold script on blue grounds, further coloured cartouches and panels within the main body containing pious phrases, the border of red dotted motifs containing the 99 names of God written in gold Bihari script

Published in 1400 Years of  Islamic Art, 1981, no. 164

Fair condition, rubbing and loss with associated repair, mounted and framed behind glass
"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."

The style of this talismanic Qur'an shirt and others is close to that of Qur'an manuscripts produced during the late 14th and 15th century in India under the Sultanate dynasties. A particularly close comparison can be made with a Qur'an scroll datable to circa 1395, sold in these rooms 15 October 1998, lot 15. The palette, decorative scheme and scripts used on that piece were extremely close to the present one, even down to the dotted background decoration of the border band and the large, blue-ground roundels with elongated vertical script. However, the dating of talismanic Qur'an jamas from India is not straightforward, for while the style of Qur'an manuscripts changed quite radically with the dawn of the Mughal period to a more Persian-influenced style, the design of talismanic jamas seems to have continued in a similar Sultanate style for several centuries. One example of similar design, although with blue borders bearing gold muhaqqaq script, was dated 11?5 AH (late 17th-18th century) (Christie's, London, 21 November 1986, lot 84. Nevertheless, the particular similarities between the present example and the Qur'an scroll referred to above points to a date closer to the 15th century.