Enrica Medugno
Sale Coordinator
Lot 2†,R
Three lines in muhaqqaq script from a large Ilkhanid manuscript of the Qur'an Iraq, early 14th Century
Amended
23 May 2023, 11:00 BST
London, New Bond StreetSold for £8,704 inc. premium
Looking for a similar item?
Our Islamic and Indian Art specialists can help you find a similar item at an auction or via a private sale.
Find your local specialistAsk about this lot
Oliver White
Head of Department
Three lines in muhaqqaq script from a large Ilkhanid manuscript of the Qur'an
Iraq, early 14th Century
Iraq, early 14th Century
Arabic manuscript on cream paper, consisting of a section of two lines, and a third separate line, all written in large and fine muhaqqaq script, the first line in gold outlined in black, the other two lines in black outlined in gold, circular illuminated devices marking verse-endings, mounted and framed together
two-line section 155 x 245 mm.; one-line section 90 x 252 mm.; frame 46 x 34 cm.
two-line section 155 x 245 mm.; one-line section 90 x 252 mm.; frame 46 x 34 cm.
Footnotes
Text
Two-line section: Qur'an, sura LXX, al-ma'arij, parts of verse 23-25.
One-line section: Qur'an, sura LXX, al-ma'arij, verse 27.
Therefore one line is missing between the two sections.
For a fragment of seven lines attributed to a manuscript of the Qur'an commissioned by Sultan Uljaytu Khan, Mosul, circa 1306-1311, see Sotheby's, Arts of the Islamic World including 20th Century Middle Eastern Painting, 3rd May 2001, lot 11.
For a large leaf from an Ilkhanid Qur'an, written in muhaqqaq script with alternating gold and blue lines, in the Museum of Islamic Art, Qatar (MS. 643), see J. Gonnella (ed.), Museum of Islamic Art: the Collection, London 2022, pp. 88-89.
A thirty-section Qur'an was commissioned by the Ilkhanid ruler Uljaytu in 1306-11, its controlled and elegant large muhaqqaq script the work of Ali ibn Muhammad al-Husaini, who is also thought to have been the illuminator (see D. James, Qur'ans of the Mamluks, London 1988, p. 101). Sections of this Qur'an are now in the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin, Ms.1613, the Topkapi Saray Library, EH232, the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts, Istanbul, 540, and the Bayezit Library, Amasya, K1052 (see James, op. cit., pp. 100-103, figs. 64-71, cat. 42).
Saleroom notices
Please note that in the printed catalogue this lot is missing a dagger symbol, meaning that it is subject to VAT at the prevailing rate on Hammer Price and Buyer's Premium. This is correct in the online catalogue.