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Lot Essay
The distinctive vertical format of this kufic Qur'an section is an innovation which has been attributed to the first half of the 10th century. A vertical format bifolium in the Bibliothèque Nationale which has very similar distinctive initial alifs with curved tails is also attributed to the 10th century (ms.arabe.342; Splendeur et Majesté: Corans de la Bibliothèque Nationale, exhibition catalogue, Paris, 1987, no.7, pp.28-29). Our section has five lines of widely spaced elegant kufic which contrasts with the more compressed and confined eleven lines of script on the BNF bifolium.
This rare form of kufic in our section is classified as part of Déroche's D.Va group which also includes the BNF bifolio mentioned above (Alain George, The Rise of Islamic Calligraphy, London, 2010, p. 156). The combination of the innovative vertical format and the elegant spacing of the letters indicates that this was a unique luxurious copy dating to the early 10th Century.
A similar rare vertical kufic Qur'an section attributed to the early 10th Century was sold in these Rooms, 23 October 2007, lot 10.
This rare form of kufic in our section is classified as part of Déroche's D.Va group which also includes the BNF bifolio mentioned above (Alain George, The Rise of Islamic Calligraphy, London, 2010, p. 156). The combination of the innovative vertical format and the elegant spacing of the letters indicates that this was a unique luxurious copy dating to the early 10th Century.
A similar rare vertical kufic Qur'an section attributed to the early 10th Century was sold in these Rooms, 23 October 2007, lot 10.