A Monumental Illuminated Qur'an, Persia or Mesopotamia, first half 13th century

Arabic manuscript on cream paper, 255 leaves, fifteen lines to the page, written in naskh script in black ink, recitation marked in red ink, verses separated by gold rosettes pointed in red and blue, tenth verses marked by marginal medallions, tenth and fifth verse divisions marked in the margins with the words 'ayn' and 'kha' in red, surah headings written in thuluth script in thick gold, opening leaf with a panel of illumination composed of interlocking circles and semi-circles, the interstices filled with vegetal motifs and interlacing split-palmettes, knotwork borders, double page illuminated frontispiece with text in cloudbands against a red hatched ground sprinkled with polychrome flowers, ensuite interlocking circular motif border panels, final leaf with an illuminated endpiece containg the phrase 'sadaqa Allah al-Azim' in white thuluth script in a gold cloudband against a gold and polychrome floral panel, some areas of retouched illumination, in a later Mamluk-style binding, with flap.  

Ink and Gold, Islamic Calligraphy, Museum für Islamische Kunst, Berlin, 14 July - 31 August 2006

In generally good overall condition, some staining and damge to edges with associated repair, some of the tenth verse markers eroded due to verdigris corrosion, 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."

This large and impressive Qur'an is noteworthy for its lavish illumination, most visible on the opening page (opposite), displaying a complex design of interlocking circular motifs. The decoration of the manuscript represents the point that Qur'an production had reached following the aesthetic development of the eleventh and twelfth centuries, including the use of naskh script. During the following Ilkhanid period, radical changes would take place, and muhaqqaq script would become the pre-eminent script for large scale copies of the Qur'an (see M. Fraser & W. Kwiatkowski, Ink and Gold, London, 2006). Indeed, a parallel can be drawn between the illumination design of the present manuscript and that of a slightly earlier, and much smaller, Qur'an included in this sale as lot 181.