A Large Illuminated Qur'an Leaf in Kufic Script, North Africa or Near East, late 9th century AD

text: surah al-baqarah (II), part of verse 191 to part of verse 193
Arabic manuscript on vellum, 7 lines to the page written in elongated kufic script in brown ink with vocal points represented by red, yellow and green dots, single verse divisions marked with triangular clusters of gold dots, wide outer margins indicating the leaf has not been trimmed

In good overall condition, vellum clean, ink strong and bold, gold bright, recto text rubbed, nibbles to leaf edges, 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 folio is a superb example of 'Abbasid luxury Qur'an production at its most stylised point in the late ninth century.  It is perhaps possible to define this style (equating to Déroche's group 'D' styles) as the mature 'Abbasid Kufic', with the script displaying the 'sober beauty' that Déroche mentions in the catalogue of the Nasser D. Khalili Collection (Déroche 1992, no.21).  Manuscripts with this kind of austere beauty seem to emphasise the power and significance of the text through the execution of a confident hand; the use of horizontal stretching (mashq) abstracts some of the letters which underlines the centrality and iconic status of the word of the Qur'an. The vertical letter-forms provide a visual balance to the horizontal elongation but for the time being they are not the focus.  Other features of the script which characterise the style include a relatively wide and even spacing of the letters along the lines and of the lines on the page; a typical horizontal format for the text area and page; few or no original letter-points, and a regular visual rhythm.

Four leaves from the same manuscript were sold in these rooms, 1 April, 2009, lot 1, 9 April 2008, lot 17, 24 October 2007, lot 8 and 18 April 2007, lot 4.  Other related leaves and manuscripts are as follows: Qairawan, Musée des Arts Islamiques (Carthage, no.328); Nasser D. Khalili Collection, London (Déroche 1992, no.21); a bifolium exhibited in Berlin 2006 in the exhibition Ink and Gold (Fraser and Kwiatowski, no.7); Sotheby's, 29 April 1998, lots 5 & 6, 15 October 1997, lots 2 & 7; Bernard Quaritch, cat.121, no.4.