SIGNED 'ABDULLAH, RAMPUR, MUGHAL NORTH INDIA, DATED 25 SAFAR AH 1144/29 AUGUST 1731 AD

This Qur’an is outstanding for its extensive illumination which incorporates a lavish use of gold on the text panel on every folio, interspersed with profusely illuminated bifolios. The bold, black naskh set against an alternating yellow-toned and green-toned gold ground creates a striking effect, heightened by the gold foliate arabesques adorning the borders. A Qur’an in the Khalili collection demonstrates a similar use of gold throughout the text panel, contrasting with a second shade on gold in the rules (Bayani et al., 1999, no.52, p.158). The magnificent illumination of this Qur’an suggests that it was intended for a shah (ibid.), and given the similarly extensive illumination on the present manuscript, this Qur’an may have also been intended for nobility.

For an Indian Qur’an which demonstrates a similar use of gold on its opening folio see ibid., no.70, pp.220-224.