A QUR'AN LEAF IN KUFIC SCRIPT ON VELLUM, NORTH AFRICA OR NEAR EAST, 10TH CENTURY

Text: Sura Yusuf (xii), v.100
Arabic manuscript leaf, ink, colour and gold on parchment; three lines per page written in bold Kufic script in dark brown ink, letter-pointing (i'jam) applied with thin diagonal dashes in brown ink, vocalization of red and green dots

In fair overall condition, some horizontal creases to upper edge and middle, a minor tear to the bottom left edge, 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 leaf comes from an important dispersed Qur'an notable for its unusually attenuated and elegant script.  The wide spacing of the lines on the page, with only three lines present on each page, means that this Qur'an manuscript as a whole must have run to many hundreds of folios, using a very large quantity of parchment and therefore being a very expensive commision. This luxury aspect of the manuscript is confirmed by the very large and ornate illuminated devices used to mark the sura headings and the fifth and tenth verses (visible on other published folios, see Fraser and Kwiatowski 2006, p.55 and Sotheby's, London, 21-22 November 1985, lot 292).

The script is very distinctive, with very tall vertical letters (alif, lam and lam/alif), wide, curving terminal nun and the thin, trailing loops of the tails of terminal mim. Letter forms of this distinct type are found on only two other known Qur'ans (see, for instance, Lings and Safadi 1976, no.24, Paris 1982, no.9, see Berlin 1980, no.35, and Sotheby's London, 12th October 2000, lots 30-31 (where further references are given). Déroche gives this script a category of its own - D.VC (see Déroche 1992, pp.44-45, 109,111).

The dramatic contrast created on the page by the juxtaposition of the tall verticals and the large, looping curves is further enhanced by the relatively small size of the remaining letter-forms, which appear almost diminutive in comparison. These distinctive aspects of the script indicate that the scribe approached the preparation of this manuscript with a specific aesthetic and graphic intention, creating an arresting calligraphy of contrast and visual rhythm. The combination of the unusual aesthetic and the luxury aspects mentioned above point to this Qur'an having been a specific commission for a princely patron.

Other leaves from this Qur'an are in the Aga Khan Museum Collection (see London 2007, no.4, p.33); the Al-Sabah Collection, Kuwait (al-Andalus, fig.1, p.117), the Tareq Rajab Museum, Kuwait, and the Nasser D Khalili Collection, London (Déroche 1992, no.58).  Further leaves have been sold in these rooms, most recently 12th October 2010, lot 13 .

For a full discussion of the script of this Qur'an and other related examples see Fraser and Kwiatowski 2006, nos.13 and 14.