- 144
A Large Qur'an Leaf in Kufic Script
Estimate
25,000 - 35,000 USD
Log in to view results
bidding is closed
Description
- 8th century
- Ink on Vellum
Condition
In reasonably good overall condition, a few minor stains and repairs, some thin tears to inking in the lower lines due to age and creasing, otherwise ink strong, reverse with loss to ink, leaf has undergone a recent light clean, 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."
"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."
Catalogue Note
inscription
Qur'an, surah al-nisa (IV), part of verse 153 to 162
This Qur'an folio and the following lot originate from a widely dispersed manuscript of great interest, which is notable for its distinctive script and archaic features.
The page size is relatively large, the script is characterized by a strong degree of horizontal stretching (mashq), and the 16 lines per page are relatively closely spaced, presenting a quite solid block of text area. There are several features that distinguish the script from most other Kufic scripts. The terminal nun is very rounded, almost semi-circular, the medial fa/qaf and 'ayn sit above the line of script, attached only by a very thin vertical ligature, and the actual form of the medial 'ayn (seen here on the thirteenth line of the verso) is a small cup-shape, almost like a minute flower. These and other features have led Déroche to give this script a category of its own, designated by him as style F (see Déroche 1992, pp.46-47). One aspect of the script, the terminal qaf, is of an archaic form that may be associated with the eighth century under the Umayyad and early Abbasid dynasties. Déroche associates the script with two inscriptions of the eighth century, one dated 100 AH/718-19 AD, the other dated 160AH/776-7 AD (see Déroche 1992, p.42).
The illumination is also interesting and of an archaic style, characterized by densely decorated polychrome designs employing reticulation and interlacing in the horizontal panels of the sura headings and dense scrolling foliate motifs in the adjoining stylized palmettes, which are also distinctive for being present on both the outer and inner margins. This latter feature is extremely unusual. The palette of the illumination is predominantly green and brown, and the generally dense foliate style is also used on the fully illuminated opening pages of the ajza', as shown by a folio sold in these rooms 8th October 2008, lot 1.
Another early feature is the use of rows of angled brown ink dashes for the verse dividers (seen here on the fourteenth line of the verso). This type of verse marker is associated mostly with Qur'ans in Hijazi script and a few early Kufic manuscripts which can be confidently attributed to the Umayyad period, such as the well-known monumental Qur'an in Sana'a with the architectural frontispieces (see von Bothmer 1987, Amsterdam 1999, cat.36-41), which has been date on stylistic grounds to circa 710-15, and the monumental manuscript known as the Tashkent Qur'an, which has been carbon-dated to circa 700 AD.
The sura titles of the present Qur'an were probably not part of the original design, since they have been squeezed in to the small amount of available space at the end of sura, written in red ink. However, they are written in an identical script to that of the main text and it is possible that they were included by the original scribe after the completion of the manuscript. The letter-pointing (i'jam) is also not original, using a slightly darker ink and being applied in a less neat and refined manner than the text. However, the ink has a fine cracquelure caused by the drying of the ink over the centuries, and thus indicating that it was applied at least in medieval times, perhaps within a relatively short time of the original production of the manuscript.
Other leaves from this manuscript are in museum and private collections worldwide, including the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the David Collection, Copenhagen, the Tareq Rajab Museum, Kuwait and the Nasser D Khalili Collection, London. Examples have appeared at auction over the last several decades, most recently in these rooms 24th October 2007, lot 2, where further listing is given. Folios with illuminated panels are very rare, only four having appeared on the market (Christie's, London, 15 october 1996, lot 47, Sotheby's, London, 29 April 1998, lot 2, Bonhams, London, 1st May 2003, lot 1, and Sotheby's, London, 8th October 2008, lot 1.
For further reading see Fraser and Kwiatowski 2006, pp.26-29, Blair 2006, pp.101-140, Déroche 1992, pp.42, 46-7, 122.
Qur'an, surah al-nisa (IV), part of verse 153 to 162
This Qur'an folio and the following lot originate from a widely dispersed manuscript of great interest, which is notable for its distinctive script and archaic features.
The page size is relatively large, the script is characterized by a strong degree of horizontal stretching (mashq), and the 16 lines per page are relatively closely spaced, presenting a quite solid block of text area. There are several features that distinguish the script from most other Kufic scripts. The terminal nun is very rounded, almost semi-circular, the medial fa/qaf and 'ayn sit above the line of script, attached only by a very thin vertical ligature, and the actual form of the medial 'ayn (seen here on the thirteenth line of the verso) is a small cup-shape, almost like a minute flower. These and other features have led Déroche to give this script a category of its own, designated by him as style F (see Déroche 1992, pp.46-47). One aspect of the script, the terminal qaf, is of an archaic form that may be associated with the eighth century under the Umayyad and early Abbasid dynasties. Déroche associates the script with two inscriptions of the eighth century, one dated 100 AH/718-19 AD, the other dated 160AH/776-7 AD (see Déroche 1992, p.42).
The illumination is also interesting and of an archaic style, characterized by densely decorated polychrome designs employing reticulation and interlacing in the horizontal panels of the sura headings and dense scrolling foliate motifs in the adjoining stylized palmettes, which are also distinctive for being present on both the outer and inner margins. This latter feature is extremely unusual. The palette of the illumination is predominantly green and brown, and the generally dense foliate style is also used on the fully illuminated opening pages of the ajza', as shown by a folio sold in these rooms 8th October 2008, lot 1.
Another early feature is the use of rows of angled brown ink dashes for the verse dividers (seen here on the fourteenth line of the verso). This type of verse marker is associated mostly with Qur'ans in Hijazi script and a few early Kufic manuscripts which can be confidently attributed to the Umayyad period, such as the well-known monumental Qur'an in Sana'a with the architectural frontispieces (see von Bothmer 1987, Amsterdam 1999, cat.36-41), which has been date on stylistic grounds to circa 710-15, and the monumental manuscript known as the Tashkent Qur'an, which has been carbon-dated to circa 700 AD.
The sura titles of the present Qur'an were probably not part of the original design, since they have been squeezed in to the small amount of available space at the end of sura, written in red ink. However, they are written in an identical script to that of the main text and it is possible that they were included by the original scribe after the completion of the manuscript. The letter-pointing (i'jam) is also not original, using a slightly darker ink and being applied in a less neat and refined manner than the text. However, the ink has a fine cracquelure caused by the drying of the ink over the centuries, and thus indicating that it was applied at least in medieval times, perhaps within a relatively short time of the original production of the manuscript.
Other leaves from this manuscript are in museum and private collections worldwide, including the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the David Collection, Copenhagen, the Tareq Rajab Museum, Kuwait and the Nasser D Khalili Collection, London. Examples have appeared at auction over the last several decades, most recently in these rooms 24th October 2007, lot 2, where further listing is given. Folios with illuminated panels are very rare, only four having appeared on the market (Christie's, London, 15 october 1996, lot 47, Sotheby's, London, 29 April 1998, lot 2, Bonhams, London, 1st May 2003, lot 1, and Sotheby's, London, 8th October 2008, lot 1.
For further reading see Fraser and Kwiatowski 2006, pp.26-29, Blair 2006, pp.101-140, Déroche 1992, pp.42, 46-7, 122.