- 10
A Scroll-form Qur'an incorporated into the ninety-nine names of God in micrographic script, dated A.H. 780[1]/A.D. 1378-1380, with later opening text, Persia, Safavid, circa 1600
Estimate
8,000 - 12,000 GBP
Log in to view results
bidding is closed
Description
Illuminated Arabic manuscript on cream paper, the text of the Qur'an written in fine ghubari script in a micrographic design to form the ninety-nine names of God in large thuluth script, diacritics and vowels in gold outlined in red, annotations in small naskhi script in red between the text, margins ruled in colours and gold, opening illuminated section with lobed cartouches with scrolling foliate motifs on a gold ground, the opening verse of the Qur'an in neat naskhi script within cloudbands, starred verse markers against a foliate ground, with leather endpiece
Condition
In overall good condition, the paper has been relaid on yellow silk, some creases and small tears to edges, some losses to gold, as viewed.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
Catalogue Note
Qur'ans, amulets and talismans written in ghubar script in scroll form became popular from the 17th century onwards and calligraphers competed to display their skill in writing this miniscule script. However, such manuscripts that have survived from the Mamluk and Ilkhanid/Timurid periods are extremely rare.
According to al-Qalqashandi, the Mamluk chronicler who wrote on the subject of calligraphy, the ghubar (literally 'dust') script is thought to have derived from the riqa' and naskh scripts. The invention of this script is attributed to al-Ahwal who derived it from the riyasi script in the 9th century. The letters are usually less than 3mm and often as small as 1.3mm. The script was originally invented to write messages carried by carrier pigeon, but it soon came to be used by calligraphers in the production of scrolls for talismanic and magical writings, and also entire copies of the Qur'an, sometimes incorporated into a micrographic design, as in this manuscript. In this case, the entire Qur'anic text has been skilfully written into a design composed of the ninety-names of God. The compression of the text into the smallest possible space made it easier for the scroll to be attached to or carried by a person during his travels or in battle in order to protect him from any misfortune that might befall him.
An interesting feature of this scroll is the script of the Persian translation written in red ink which can be compared cloesely to that of the script used to write the indices and tables of content and titles in Ilkhanid scriptoriums in the late 13th/14th centuries. For comparable script see that of an earlier medical encyclopaedia dated 1273 sold in these rooms on 14 October 1999, lot 21. A fifteenth-century Mamluk prayer scroll was sold in these rooms on 13 October 1980, lot 92, whilst a further Ottoman example was sold on 26 April 1995, lot 22. For further reading:
Blair, Shelia. S, Islamic Calligraphy, Edinburgh University Press, 2006, pp.259-260.
Safadi, Yasin, Islamic Calligraphy, Thames and Hudson, London, 1992, p.21.
Safwat, Nabil, The Art of the Pen, Oxford University Press, 1996, pp.184-194.
According to al-Qalqashandi, the Mamluk chronicler who wrote on the subject of calligraphy, the ghubar (literally 'dust') script is thought to have derived from the riqa' and naskh scripts. The invention of this script is attributed to al-Ahwal who derived it from the riyasi script in the 9th century. The letters are usually less than 3mm and often as small as 1.3mm. The script was originally invented to write messages carried by carrier pigeon, but it soon came to be used by calligraphers in the production of scrolls for talismanic and magical writings, and also entire copies of the Qur'an, sometimes incorporated into a micrographic design, as in this manuscript. In this case, the entire Qur'anic text has been skilfully written into a design composed of the ninety-names of God. The compression of the text into the smallest possible space made it easier for the scroll to be attached to or carried by a person during his travels or in battle in order to protect him from any misfortune that might befall him.
An interesting feature of this scroll is the script of the Persian translation written in red ink which can be compared cloesely to that of the script used to write the indices and tables of content and titles in Ilkhanid scriptoriums in the late 13th/14th centuries. For comparable script see that of an earlier medical encyclopaedia dated 1273 sold in these rooms on 14 October 1999, lot 21. A fifteenth-century Mamluk prayer scroll was sold in these rooms on 13 October 1980, lot 92, whilst a further Ottoman example was sold on 26 April 1995, lot 22. For further reading:
Blair, Shelia. S, Islamic Calligraphy, Edinburgh University Press, 2006, pp.259-260.
Safadi, Yasin, Islamic Calligraphy, Thames and Hudson, London, 1992, p.21.
Safwat, Nabil, The Art of the Pen, Oxford University Press, 1996, pp.184-194.