AN ILLUMINATED QUR’AN, COPIED BY ABU BAKR IBN SULEYMAN, TURKEY, OTTOMAN, DATED 1107AH/1695-96 AD |

Arabic manuscript on paper, 395 leaves plus 4 fly-leaves, 13 lines to the page written in naskh script in black ink, ruled in gold and black, verses separated by polychrome and gold rosettes, polychrome and gold verse markers in the margin, polychrome and gold opening double page decorated with fine floral scrolls against a blue ground, in a fine gilt binding decorated with scrolls against blue ground, with flap

Ex-collection Gustave Stresow, Germany (d.2010).

In good condition, the margins are clean, minor tears which do not affect the text, minor restoration to the paper of some leaves, the opening double page with minor smudges but maintaining crisp colours, f.1r with trace of a paper glued on top of the original leaf, now showing a gold bunch of flower, but with evidence of illumination below, the binding in good condition overall, 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.
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The colophon of the present mansucript records that Abu Bakr was a student of Nefeszade. The calligrapher here is mentioned only by the name Nesfeszade and is very likely the great master Nesfeszade Seyyed Isma'il Efendi (d.1679 AD), one of the most prominent calligraphers of the second half of the seventeenth century. As reported by Mustakimzade, “if he had not had such a big belly and had been able comfortably to hold the writing pad on his knee, it would have been impossible to tell apart his writing and Sheikh Hamdullah’s” (Derman 2010, p.118). Nesfeszade was also the teacher of the great Hafiz Osman, active at the same time as Abu Bakr. The balanced naskh of this Qur’an is framed by a fine illumination, with the delicate scrolls of multi-coloured flowers encircled by gold half-palmettes as well as the marginal devices recalling the illumination of contemporaneous Qur’ans by the master Hasan Celebi (see for example a Qur’an copied by Hafiz Osman and dated 1094 AH/1682 AD now in the Istanbul University Library, inv. no.A.6549, Derman 2010, p.168). Similar half-flowers in green encircle the opening double page of a Qur’an copied by Cinicizade Abdulrahman Efendi, dated 1112 AH/1700 AD and illuminated by Bartuthaneli Abdullah Efendi. Although the illumination of the present Qur’an is not signed, it is plausible to attribute it one of the master illuminators of the time, as Abu Bakr was active in the same circle and practising under the supervision of the master Nesfeszade.