Arts of the Islamic World & India

Two Qur'an leaves in Muhaqqaq script on paper, Anatolia or Central Asia, circa 1300-1335

Auction Closed

October 25, 04:59 PM GMT

Estimate

5,000 - 7,000 GBP

Lot Details

Description

Two Qur'an leaves in Muhaqqaq script on paper, Anatolia or Central Asia, circa 1300-1335

text: Qur'an, surah al-Naba (LXXVIII), middle of verse 9 to end of verse 12; surah al Buruj (LXXXV) middle of verse 9 to middle of verse 10

Arabic manuscript on paper, 3 lines to the page written in large muhaqqaq in black ink, Persian interlinear translations in small black naskh written on the diagonal, verses separated by gold and polychrome rosettes

leaf: 28.4 by 18cm.

These two folios originate from a manuscript thought to have been produced in Anatolia or Central Asia. Further folios from the group have been decorated later with border illumination and extracts from the hadith in Kufic, such as a bifolium sold at Christie's, London, 27 April 2023, lot 15. However, these two folios are undecorated emphasising the bold use of space and striking muhaqqaq script.

Other leaves from the same Qur’an are now in museums and private collections including the British Library; the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin; the Freer Gallery of Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C.; the Rietberg Museum, Zurich; the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the Nasser D. Khalili Collection, London. For further discussion see James 1988, pp.173-4, cat. nos.58-60; Arberry 1967, pl.48; Losty 1986, no.5 and James 1992a, no.51.