An exceptional illuminated Qur'an, copied by Yusuf ibn 'Abdullah student of 'Ala al-Din Muhammad Tabrizi, Persia, Safavid, dated 983 AH/1575-76 AD

An exceptional illuminated Qur'an, copied by Yusuf ibn 'Abdullah student of 'Ala al-Din Muhammad Tabrizi, Persia, Safavid, dated 983 AH/1575-76 AD

Arabic manuscript on polished cream paper, 400 leaves plus 3 fly-leaves, 12 lines to the page, written in fine naskh script in black ink against a ground sprinkled with gold, verses separated by gold and polychrome rosettes, the bismillah and name ‘Allah’ picked out in gold throughout the manuscript, surah headings in blue against gold and polychrome floral cartouches in varying styles, margins ruled in colours and gold, illuminated foliate marginal devices throughout, ff.1b-2a with an illuminated double shamsa decorated in colours and two tones of gold with an intricate weave of interlacing arabesques leading to polychrome floral cartouches, ff.2b-3a with a double page illuminated frontispiece composed of interlocking lobed polygons enclosing surah al-Fatiha and the opening of surah al-Baqara in gold against a ground of a different tone of gold, the decoration consisting of chinoiserie cloud bands and interlacing polychrome vines, inner black borders filled with scrolling flowers, and outer lobed margins of corresponding decoration, ff.398b-9a with an illuminated finispiece, ff.399b-400a with closing double shamsa in colours, black and gold with text in blue, f.1a with Ottoman waqf inscription dated 1190 AH/1776 AD with name of Esma Hanim Efendi daughter of vizier Es'ad Pasha, brown morocco binding with doublures composed of medallions and corner pieces of interlacing floral vines, remnants of filigree-work, the outer binding with gilt-stamped vegetal decoration, with flap

0