‘The epitome of Islamic art’
Sara Plumbly, Head of Islamic & Indian Art at Christie’s London, discusses the breadth of Islamic calligraphy, illustrated with a group of exceptional Qur’ans to be offered in our 27 April sale of Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds
For Muslims, the Qur’an constitutes the very word of God. As Sara Plumbly, Head of Islamic & Indian Art at Christie's London, explains, the imperative to clearly and elegantly transcribe these words has made calligraphy the ‘oldest and most revered of the arts of Islam’. According to some, indeed, calligraphy is considered ‘the epitome of Islamic art’.
On 27 April, Christie’s will bring to auction an extraordinary group of Qur’ans that demonstrate the evolution of the copying of the Qur’an across the centuries. Taken together, these beautiful works reflect a real range both in terms of calligraphy and illumination.
One outstanding piece, a Kufic folio on blue vellum, comes from one of the most important early Qur’ans that we know of today, with calligraphy copied in gold and outlined by red. ‘There is ongoing debate as to the precise attribution, but it is generally accepted that it was copied in the 9th century, in Tunisia,’ Plumbly explains. ‘The roundels, which would have marked every verse of the Qur’an, would originally have been a vivid, sparkling silver, and the whole thing would have been even more lavish that it appears today.’
A Kufic Qur’an folio on blue vellum. Probably Qairouan, Tunisia, 9th century. Folio 10⅞ x 14⅛ in (27.6 x 35.7 cm). Estimate: £100,000-150,000. This lot is offered in Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds Including Oriental Rugs and Carpets on 27 April 2017 at Christie’s in London, King Street
Two Qur’ans, produced in Morocco in the mid-16th to early 17th century, were copied in a style of script known as maghribi, typified by distinctive downward loops. Both pieces give the names of the patrons who commissioned them, which, says Plumbly, reveals ‘that there was a real interest in the production of luxurious Qur’an manuscripts at that period’.
An impressive Maghribi Qur'an. Made for Abu'l-Hasan 'Ali of the Banu. Folio 11¾ x 8⅞ in (29.7 x 22.4cm). Estimate: £60,000-80,000. This lot is offered in Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds Including Oriental Rugs and Carpets on 27 April 2017 at Christie’s in London, King Street
Qur'ans could be as expansive in size as they could be minuscule. The former is reflected in a single line from one monumental Qur’an — the so-called Baysunghur Qur’an, copied circa 1420 — which would have contained some 800 bifolios. As Plumbly explains, ‘it's really unlike anything else that's been produced before or since.’
A line from the monumental 'Baysunghur Qur'an'. Probably Samarqand, c. 1420. 10¼ x 37½ in (26 x 95 cm). Estimate: £50,000-70,000. This lot is offered in Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds Including Oriental Rugs and Carpets on 27 April 2017 at Christie’s in London, King Street
The giant Baysunghur Qur’an contrasts sharply with a 19th-century example from Qajar Iran, written in ghubari script. Here, Plumbly explains, ‘the scribe has shown real dexterity by trying to make the text as small as he possibly can. It’s really quite remarkable to think that in just 30 pages the scribe has managed to copy the entire Qur’an, with amazing attention to detail and skill of the hand.’
Qur'an in Ghubari script. Qajar Iran, dated AH 1219/1804-05 AD. Text panel 7⅜ x 4⅝ in (18.8 x 11.8 cm); folio 8⅞ x 6⅞ in (25.6 x 17.3 cm). Estimate: £10,000-15,000. This lot is offered in Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds Including Oriental Rugs and Carpets on 27 April 2017 at Christie’s in London, King Street
Qur’ans, of course, were often incredibly lavish. One beautifully illuminated example, copied in Shiraz, central Iran, in the Safavid period (circa 1550-80), features two different scripts on gold-sprinkled paper. ‘It's the most lavish of commissions, only really made for the most illustrious of patrons,’ the specialist says.
An impressive Safavid Qur'an. Shiraz, central Iran, c. 1550-80. Text panel 9⅝ x 5½ in (24.3 x 14 cm); folio 14⅛ x 9¼ in (35.7 x 23.3 cm). Estimate: £120,000-180,000. This lot is offered in Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds Including Oriental Rugs and Carpets on 27 April 2017 at Christie’s in London, King Street
Each of these exceptional pieces will be offered in Christie’s Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds sale, on 27 April in London. You can view all the lots in the sale below.