SULTANATE INDIA, LATE 14TH/EARLY 15TH CENTURY

Details

A FOLIO FROM A BIHARI QUR'AN
SULTANATE INDIA, LATE 14TH/EARLY 15TH CENTURY
Arabic manuscript on paper, Qur'an LXIX, sura al-haqqah, vv.40(part)-52 and Qur'an LXX, sura al-ma'arij, vv.1-14, 11ll. of gold bihari script, diacritics in red, gold and lapis roundel verse markers, one sura heading in gold on illuminated cartouche set within blue panel with floral decoration, set within rules assembled from other manuscripts and laid down together, the margins applied
Text panel 10 ¼ x 7 ¾in. (26 x 19.8cm.); folio 11 ½ x 9 1/8in. (29.3 x 23.2cm.)

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Lot Essay

Bihari Qur'ans are characterised by their exuberant colours. Often Qur'ans are written with different colours chosen for each line, apparently at random, occasionally with gold ink used for whole lines such as in a manuscript in the Library of Congress, Washington D.C. (acc.no. 1-84-154.21). Otherwise, as in the previous lot, gold ink is reserved pick out the name of Allah. It is unusual to find a bihari folio which makes such extensive use of chrysography as the present lot, and to find such delicately-executed bihari calligraphy.

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