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Lot Essay
The attribution of these striking pink folios to Spain is based on the use of paper. In North Africa, parchment remained the preferred material for the writing of Qur'ans into the 19th century. Spain, however, had been manufacturing and using high quality paper for manuscripts of all kinds for some time.
The manuscript is notable for the use of pink paper, and for the free manner in which the script is used, with the terminals of the letters sweeping over the page, in contrast to the very precise way in which the vocalisation and illumination is handled. Other leaves and sections from this Qur'an are in various public and private collections. For example, Falk, T.(ed.): Treasures of Islam, Geneva, London, 1985, p.39.
Other leaves from this manuscript were sold in Christie's, King street, 26 April 2012, lot 136; 6 October 2009, lot 41; 23 April 2002, lot 7; 16 October 2001, lots 3 and 4, and 10 October 2000.
The manuscript is notable for the use of pink paper, and for the free manner in which the script is used, with the terminals of the letters sweeping over the page, in contrast to the very precise way in which the vocalisation and illumination is handled. Other leaves and sections from this Qur'an are in various public and private collections. For example, Falk, T.(ed.): Treasures of Islam, Geneva, London, 1985, p.39.
Other leaves from this manuscript were sold in Christie's, King street, 26 April 2012, lot 136; 6 October 2009, lot 41; 23 April 2002, lot 7; 16 October 2001, lots 3 and 4, and 10 October 2000.