Arts of the Islamic World
Arts of the Islamic World
Auction Closed
October 23, 04:16 PM GMT
Estimate
25,000 - 35,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
AN ILLUMINATED QUR’AN JUZ (XXX), COPIED BY HAFIZ MEHMED AL-WAFA, TURKEY, OTTOMAN, DATED 1231 AH/1815-16 AD
surah al-Naba (LXXVIII) v.1 to surah al-Nas (CXIV), v.6 followed by surah al-Fatihah (I), vv.1-7
Arabic manuscript on paper, 28 leaves plus 2 fly-leaves, 9 lines to the page, written in naskh in black ink, ruled in black and gold, verses separated by gold and polychrome rosettes, surah headings in white thuluth against gold within cartouches, f.1b and f.2a with a lavish polychrome and gold rococo illuminated frontispiece, with light blue paper doublures painted with gilt decoration, leather binding
23.4 by 16cm.
Previously in the collection of Saeed Motamed since 1994.
The opening illumination of this fine juz' is a fine example of the decorative repertoire of Ottoman rococo style which combines elements of Ottoman traditional illumination with European baroque features. The two bouquets of flowers which adorn the margins of the illuminated page are identical to the bouquets in an Alif-Ba volume now in the Topkapi Palace Library (inv.no.TSM.EH436, published in Atasoy 2002, pp.190-1). The close similarities justify either the hypothesis of the same illuminator working on both manuscripts, or that he used the same pattern book.
While single-volume Ottoman Qur’ans in rococo style are relatively common, ajza are rarer. A similar manuscript, though not dated, was sold in these rooms 9 April 2014, lot 63.
