An illuminated Qur'an leaf in eastern Kufic script on paper, Persia or Iraq, circa 12th century

text: Qur'an, surah Rum (XXX), end of verse 54 to middle of verse 57

Arabic manuscript on paper, 5 lines to the page in eastern Kufic script in black ink, diacritics in gold, red and blue, verses separated by gold rosettes, khams marked by an illuminated marginal medallion

25 by 18.1cm.

Almost every Qur’anic manuscript produced prior to the 9th century was written in Kufic script, but in the 10th and 11th centuries, another style of calligraphy was developed, known as the New Style or ‘eastern’ Kufic. Its usage began in secular texts but it gradually gained legitimacy as a Qur’anic script. New systems of vocalisation were introduced, as shown on the present leaf, which are still used to this day. The small format of this manuscript, written in a comparatively more legible script than its Kufic forebears, and with more detailed markings, suggests that Qur'ans such as this were intended for personal study and reading, rather than as institutional copies.