An illuminated section from a talismanic scroll, Egypt, Mamluk, mid-14th century

Arabic manuscript on paper, an elongated illuminated cartouche with inscriptions in Kufic in white ink, within a border of gold naskh, flanked by illuminated roundels with bands of small naskh in black ink, laid down on card, framed

9.9 by 92.4cm.

Calligraphie islamique; textes sacrés et profanes, Geneva, 1988, pp. 98-99, no. 22.

inscriptions

In Kufic: Qur'an, surah al-waq'iyah (LVI), verse 77 to verse 79.

Although surviving in fragmentary form, this scroll section provides a glimpse of the beauty of its original appearance with exquisite calligraphy incorporated into illuminated panels. Talismanic scrolls were formed of selected verses from the Qur’an written on paper that could extend to many metres in length, often incorporating talismanic diagrams. In this example, the Qur’anic inscription in the central cartouche is written in a decorative form of Kufic where certain terminals and letters have been written in the form of arabesques and rosettes. The primary inscription is complemented by smaller inscriptions in gold and minute naskh in black ink which are used to both decorative and communicative effect by tracing and defining the borders of the illuminated panels.