- 9
An illuminated miniature Qur’an, Near East, late 13th/early 14th century
Estimate
20,000 - 30,000 GBP
bidding is closed
Description
- ink on paper - bound manuscript
- 8 by 6cm.
Arabic manuscript on paper, 276 leaves plus 2 fly-leaves, 19 lines to the page, written in ghubar script in black ink, partly ruled in dark blue, verses separated by gold dots, surah headings in gold thuluth script, first two bifolia with 5 lines of text surmounted above and below by gold and polychrome cartouches, f.276b with ownership inscription and date 921 AH/1515-16 AD, in brown morocco binding
Condition
In generally good condition, some leaves loose, some pages restored, losses to the illumination and rubbing, stains, 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
Early miniature Qur’ans are rare - while a large number of Ottoman and Qajar examples survive, examples datable to the Abbasid and Ayyubid periods are far more difficult to find. For a comparable example, dated slightly earlier, see Sotheby’s, London, 6 April 2011, lot 178. The illumination on the opening bifolium of this Qur’an comprises five lines of ghubar script enclosed between cartouches with square Kufic and gold palmettes extending into the margins. It is thus comparable to several Qur’ans attributed to the Near East and Mesopotamian region, although all of these are in much larger scale.
A miniature thirty-part Qur’an attributed to Iraq, mid-fourteenth century is now in the Nasser D. Khalili Collection of Islamic art (inv. no.QUR30), which presents similarities in both the verse markers and surah headings, but differences in the opening illuminations (James 1992, pp.120-1). Another similar miniature Qur'an dated 720 AH/1320 AD from Western Persia or Anatolia was sold in these rooms, 23 April 1997, lot 53, whilst a further example, attributed to Turkey and dated 815 AH/1412 AD, was sold in these rooms, 5 July 1982, lot 103.
A miniature thirty-part Qur’an attributed to Iraq, mid-fourteenth century is now in the Nasser D. Khalili Collection of Islamic art (inv. no.QUR30), which presents similarities in both the verse markers and surah headings, but differences in the opening illuminations (James 1992, pp.120-1). Another similar miniature Qur'an dated 720 AH/1320 AD from Western Persia or Anatolia was sold in these rooms, 23 April 1997, lot 53, whilst a further example, attributed to Turkey and dated 815 AH/1412 AD, was sold in these rooms, 5 July 1982, lot 103.