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A fine illuminated Qur'an, copied by Suleyman al-Uskudari, Turkey, Ottoman, dated 1087 AH/1676 AD
Estimate
120,000 - 150,000 GBP
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Description
- ink on paper, bound leather
Arabic manuscript on paper, 340 leaves plus 5 flyleaves, 13 lines to the page, written in neat naskh script in black ink, verses separated by segmented gold florets pointed in blue and red, surah headings in white thuluth script against foliated gold-ground panels, catchwords, finely-illuminated marginal devices of varying designs, double page illuminated frontispiece composed of a thick border of interlacing flowers and split-palmettes emanating blue sprays, text in cloud bands with strap-work inner borders, later tan morocco binding with gold rococo decoration, with flap
Condition
"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
Suleyman al-Uskudari
Suleyman Uskudari (d.circa 1686) studied under Mehmed Efendi of Belgrade, and went on to teach calligraphy at the Topkapi Palace. A further Qur'an, written a year earlier than the present example, is in the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts, Istanbul (412), and published in M. Ugur Derman, Ninety-Nine Qur'an Manuscripts from Istanbul, Istanbul, 2010, pp.144-7.
Another Qur’an by the scribe, written approximately two years after the present manuscript, is now in a private collection in Istanbul, published in N.F. Safwat, Understanding Calligraphy, The Ottoman Contribution - from the Collection of Cengiz Çetindoğan, Part One, London, 2014, pp.66-69, no.7.
The illumination of both the Qur'ans mentioned above share with the present a well-spaced and evenly-structured calligraphic page, as well as a particular style of illumination, employing a fairly pale palette, with an inventive array of designs for the marginal devices.
Suleyman Uskudari (d.circa 1686) studied under Mehmed Efendi of Belgrade, and went on to teach calligraphy at the Topkapi Palace. A further Qur'an, written a year earlier than the present example, is in the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts, Istanbul (412), and published in M. Ugur Derman, Ninety-Nine Qur'an Manuscripts from Istanbul, Istanbul, 2010, pp.144-7.
Another Qur’an by the scribe, written approximately two years after the present manuscript, is now in a private collection in Istanbul, published in N.F. Safwat, Understanding Calligraphy, The Ottoman Contribution - from the Collection of Cengiz Çetindoğan, Part One, London, 2014, pp.66-69, no.7.
The illumination of both the Qur'ans mentioned above share with the present a well-spaced and evenly-structured calligraphic page, as well as a particular style of illumination, employing a fairly pale palette, with an inventive array of designs for the marginal devices.