- 181
A large illuminated Qur'an, copied by al-Sharifa al-Hafiza Zulaykha Khatimi al-Sa'di, Turkey, Ottoman, dated 1278 AH/1861 AD
Estimate
30,000 - 50,000 GBP
bidding is closed
Description
- Ink on paper, bound leather
Arabic manuscript on paper, 349 leaves plus 4 flyleaves, 13 lines to the page, written in naskh script in black ink, verses separated by pointed gold roundels, catchwords, margins ruled in black, gold and red, surah headings in white thuluth script within a gold-ground panel with simple floral decoration, textual divisions marked by illuminated marginal devices, double page illuminated frontispiece incorporating large leafy flower heads against a gold ground punched with cintamani motifs, brown morocco binding with central oblong panel with gold leafy trellis pattern and rope-work border, with flap
Condition
In good overall condition, pages clean, text bold, illumination bright, slightly thumbed, 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
Qur'ans copied by female calligraphers are rare. According to Salah al-Din al-Munajjid, the scribe al-Sharifa al-Hafiza Zulaykha Khatimi al-Sa'di is recorded as a daughter of al-Hajj 'abd al-Karim Zadah Bisari Yari, and a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad (see Salah al-Din al-Munajjid, 'Women's Role in the Art of Arabic Calligraphy', in G.N. Atiyeh (ed.), The Book in the Islamic World: The Written Word and Communication in the Middle East, New York, 1995. She is is known to have learned the entire Qur'an by heart (hence the name al-Hafizah). Another Ottoman Qur'an by a female calligrapher was sold in these rooms, 6 April 2011, lot 201.