SIGNED 'ABDULLAH ASHUR ISFAHANI, QAJAR IRAN, DATED SHAWWAL AH 1239/MAY-JUNE 1824 AD

Details

QUR'AN
SIGNED 'ABDULLAH ASHUR ISFAHANI, QAJAR IRAN, DATED SHAWWAL AH 1239/MAY-JUNE 1824 AD
Arabic manuscript on paper, 327ff. each with 14ll. of black naskh on a gold ground, within gold and black rules, interlinear Persian translation in red nasta'liq signed 'Abd al-Husayn bin Muhammad Isfahani and dated 1239, catchwords, gold and polychrome rosette verse markers, sura headings in gold thuluth on gold and polychrome illuminated panels, hizb, juz', nisf and juz' marked with illuminated marginal devices, marginal notes in small black nasta'liq in elegantly illuminated panels, opening 5 ff. with Persian introductory text, subsequent bifolio with fihrist in red and black naskh on gold and silver chequered ground, subsequent bifolio with prayers in gold thuluth within red lobed medallions on floral ground, followed by an illuminated bifolio framing 6ll. of text against gold ground, colophon signed and dated, a further bifolio with prayers in gold thuluth within red lobed medallions on floral ground after the text, followed by further prayers, in partly loose Qajar floral lacquer binding, Qajar floral lacquer doublures with dense floral scrolls, overall very good condition

Text panel 4 ½ x 2 ½in. (11.5 x 6.4cm.); folio 5 5⁄8 x 3 ½in. (14.2 x 9cm.)

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Lot Essay

'Abdullah 'Ashur Ranani Isfahani was a well-known and prolific calligrapher active during the reign of Fath-'Ali Shah Qajar. The earliest recorded Qur'an manuscript from his hand dates from AH 1210⁄1795-6 AD and was sold at Sotheby's London, 10 April 1989, lot 215. Known patrons of his work are Amin al-Dawla 'Abdullah Khan Sadr Isfahani, who commissioned a Qur'an sold in these Rooms, 25 April 2024, lot 70, and the unidentified Muhammad 'Ali Khan, who in AH 1227⁄1812-3 AD commissioned a Qur'an that was sold in these Rooms, 11 June 1986, lot 91. The present Qur'an manuscript is his latest known manuscript, and shows the master calligrapher's expert hand at its most accomplished.

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