A LARGE MAMLUK QUR'AN FOLIO ON PINK PAPER
A LARGE MAMLUK QUR'AN FOLIO ON PINK PAPER

EGYPT, LATE 14TH/15TH CENTURY

Details
A LARGE MAMLUK QUR'AN FOLIO ON PINK PAPER
EGYPT, LATE 14TH/15TH CENTURY
Qur'an XXI (sura al-anbiya'), vv.21-54, Arabic manuscript on pink paper, 13ll. of black muhaqqaq or rayhan script, with gold rosette verse markers with polychrome highlights, each side with two gold and polychrome illuminated marginal medallions, each inscribed 'ashr or khams in gold kufic script, old waqf inscription at top
17 5/8 x 13 1/8in. (44.8 x 33.4cm.)

Lot Essay

The pink colour of the paper of this Qur'an folio is extremely rare. Another Mamluk Qur'an folio on pink paper, attributed to the late 14th century sold at Christie's King Street, 4 October 2012, lot 106. Although not as large (68 x 51cm.), the present folio is larger than many Mamluk Qur'ans and typical of the manuscripts commissioned by the Cairo-based Bahri Mamluk Sultans. They date mostly to the second half of the 14th century. The pink colour is often associated with Qur'an manuscripts from the Western Islamic World.

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