An illuminated selection of surahs, Persia, Safavid, 16th century
Auction Closed
April 30, 03:48 PM GMT
Estimate
20,000 - 30,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
text: Qur'an, surah Maryam (XIX), surah Ya-Sin (XXXVI), surah al-Fath (XLVIII), surah al-Waqi'yah (LVI), surah al-Mulk (LXVII), and surah al-Naba (LXXVII)
Arabic manuscript on gold-sprinkled paper, 31 leaves, plus 6 fly leaves, 8 lines to the page written in naskh in black ink, divided and flanked by 3 lines of alternating muhaqqaq and thuluth in blue and gold, verses separated by gold rosettes, within gold, red and while rules, blue paper margins, surah headings in white thuluth on gold and polychrome illuminated panels, f.1b with illuminated headpiece in gold and polychrome, f.10b with similarly illuminated headpiece surmounted text in clouds reserved against a gold ground, f.31a with spurious colophon bearing the name of Yaqut al-Musta'simi and dated Shawwal 682 AH, f.1a with previous owners' seal impressions, in stamped brown leather binding
text panel: 15.3 by 7.7cm.
leaf: 21.5 by 13.8cm.
The calligrapher of this charming manuscript showcases his skill by combining multiple scripts: muhaqqaq, thuluth and naskh. Juxtaposing scripts can be found in manuscripts dated to the twelfth century, but the format gained traction in Persia and Central Asia under the Timurids and Aqqoyunlu around the fifteenth century. It remained in favour with Safavid calligraphers as shown by the present manuscript.
The fine quality of the calligraphy was clearly admired and an attribution to Yaq’ut al-Musta’simi follows the text. Yaqut al-Musta'simi is heralded as the greatest calligrapher in the history of Islam, and his status is almost legendary. His prestigious reputation meant his work was esteemed and copied by contemporaneous calligraphers and his later followers, each trying the emulate his style (Blair 2006, p.242). The scribe of the present manuscript incorporates features in the naskh that show a knowledge of Ya’qut’s style such as the horizontal forms of the isolated lam.
Other manuscripts with ascriptions to Yaqut have sold in these rooms, 26 April 2023, lot 21; 26 April 2017, lot 4; 9 October 2013, lot 48; and 25 April 2012, lot 414.
