QUR'AN

DAGHESTAN, 19TH/EARLY 20TH CENTURY

Details

QUR'AN
DAGHESTAN, 19TH/EARLY 20TH CENTURY
Arabic manuscript on cream paper, 515ff. plus 6 fly-leaves, each folio with 10ll. of black naskh bordering on sini, verses marked by gold roundels surrounded by three red dots, text within red, blue and gold outlines, sura headings in red within red-outlined and occasionally illuminated panels, occasional words or phrases in large similar script sometimes with foliate terminals or polychrome enhancements, copious marginal notes in black and polychrome, opening bifolio illuminated in gold and bright polychrome, a number of similarly illuminated panels throughout, various illuminated devices in the margins marking juz', copious later owner's notes in the margins, the Qur'an followed by prayers, in brown morocco with stamped medallions and spandrels
13¾ x 9¾in. (35 x 24.4cm.)

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Lot Essay

This Daghestani Qur'an is typified by its large and bold calligraphic style combined with vibrantly coloured cartouches. Key words are often enlarged and highlighted calligraphically, in some cases forming vegetal-like shapes in the extremities of the letters. The ta marbuta' letter is often formed as a decorative knot surmounted by a bud. Interestingly it has been suggested that there is a South East Asian connection with this Qur'an (see A.T. Gallop, 'From Caucasia to Southeast Asia', in, Manuscripta Orientalia, St. Petersburg, Vol. 14 No. 1, June 2008). In particular the vibrancy of the colour scheme in the illumination might indicate a link to other Qur'ans associated with Brunei.

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