An illuminated Qur'an, signed by Ruzbihan Muhammad, Persia, Shiraz, Safavid, first half 16th century

Arabic manuscript on paper, 441 leaves, 11 lines to the page comprising 2 lines of large muhaqqaq script in blue at the top and bottom, a middle line of large gold thuluth, 8 lines of naskh script in between in black ink, verses separated by pointed gold dots, illuminated marginal medallions, margins ruled in colours and gold, surah headings in white against gold-ground foliated panels, opening double page illuminated frontispiece in colours and gold, incorporating an overlapping lobed-cartouche design filled with a dense weave of interlacing palmettes and chinoiserie cloud bands, following page with en suite headpiece, composite gilt-leather binding with tooled decoration and bordered with large thuluth calligraphy

In generally good overall condition, opening and closing pages with some paper repairs, illumination of frontispiece slightly rubbed, manuscript pages cropped, occasional smudges and water staining, some marginal worm holing with associated repair, as viewed.
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This is a fine manuscript of the Qur'an, written in a good hand and with fine quality illumination. Noteworthy characteristics include the text being written in a variety of scripts and colours, and the style of illumination, which comprises two tones of gold and a frontispiece design of interlocking cartouches, typical of the master scribe and illuminator Ruzbihan Muhammad (active 1514-47).

A number of this manuscript's features can be compared to other Qur'ans executed by the same scribe and illuminator. The use of red in the illumination bears a similarity to a further Qur'an sold in these rooms 5 October 2010, lot 26, which also shares with the present manuscript a comparable frontispiece design. The same style of interlocking lobed cartouches is also a feature of a Qur'an signed by Ruzbihan manuscript in the Nasser D. Khalili Collection (see James 1992, p.146-7). This geometric framework can also be found in a strikingly similar design on a manuscript of the Kulliyat of Jami of Shirazi origin dated 947 AH/1540 AD (when Ruzbihan was still active), sold in these rooms 14 October 1999, lot 23.

For a detailed discussion of Ruzbihan and a list of signed and attributed manuscripts see James 1992, pp.144-163.