AN ILLUMINATED PAGE FROM A QUR'AN, MESOPOTAMIA OR PERSIA, POSSIBLY BAGHDAD, SECOND HALF OF THE 13TH CENTURY

Text: Surat Al-Bara'at (ix), v.127-129, Sura Yunus (x), vv.1-3
Arabic manuscript page, 13 lines to the page, first, middle and last lines written in fine muhaqqaq script in black or gold, intervening lines written in a small, fine naskhi hand, mounted on an album page with borders of gold-sprinkled blue paper, later attribution to Yaqut al-Musta'simi applied in lower border

In good overall condition, slight thumbstains and rubbing to corners, otherwise paper clean and ink strong, gold bright, two small circular losses to paper to the middle right of the central panel, 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."

Although it is impossible to ascertain for sure if this is the hand of the great Yaqut himself, it is certainly written in a style close to his hand and is of very high quality. For comparable examples of his hand in Qur'ans generally accepted to be authentic, see Lings 2005, nos. 32-38. The "signature" in the lower border is in a different hand on a separate piece of paper applied later.

Yaqut al-Musta'simi is heralded as the greatest calligrapher in the history of Islam, and his status is almost legendary. He was born early in the 13th century, in either Anatolia or Abyssinia. He was brought to Baghdad as a eunuch and was taught calligraphy by Safi' al-Din al-Urmawi, one of the leading masters of the day and a court scribe. Yaqut was employed as an official secretary and court scribe during the last years of the Abbasid Caliphate and the first decades of Ilkhanid rule. He died in Baghdad around the year 1298 and was buried near the grave of the jurist Ahmad Ibn Hanbal.