A bifolium from the ‘Five Surahs’, copied by Abu Muhammad ‘Abdul Qayyum ibn Muhammad ibn Karamshah-i Tabrizi, Persia or Mesopotamia, probably Baghdad, Jalayrid, circa 1370
Auction Closed
March 31, 12:40 PM GMT
Estimate
30,000 - 50,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
text: surah fatir (XXXV), middle of verse 12 – middle of verse 13, and middle of verse 22 to beginning of verse 27
Arabic manuscript on paper, 5 lines to the page, written in bold muhaqqaq script in black ink outlined in gold, verses separated by illuminated roundels with geometric knotted motif, text within red, gold and blue rules, large drop-shaped illuminated fifth verse marker in the margin including the word ‘khamsa’ in the central roundel
43.2 by 69.5cm.
This leaf originates from a manuscript of selected chapters from the Qur'an known as the 'Five Surahs' which begin with the phrase al-hamdulillah (chapters I, V, XVIII, XXXIV and XXXV). The colophon of the manuscript, now housed in a private collection, gives the name of the scribe as Abu Muhammad 'Abdul Qayyum Ibn Muhammad Ibn Karamshah-i Tabrizi. Abolala Soudavar has suggested on stylistic grounds that the compilation of Qur'anic verses from which this leaf originated was made for the Jalayrid ruler Shaykh Uways (A. Soudavar, Art of the Persian Courts: Selections from the Art and History Trust Collection, New York 1992, no.19, pp.50-51).
The extremely fine illumination is reminiscent of earlier Ilkhanid imperial Qur'ans, such as Uljaytu's Mosul Qur'an and the superb muhaqqaq script looks forward to the monumental Qur'an attributed to Baysunghur but more likely commissioned by his grandfather Timur (r.1370-1405). Furthermore, David James observes that the calligrapher achieves "...Faultless perfection...equalled only by Suhrawardi in the Qur'an produced in Baghdad in the early years of the 14th century" (D. James, The Master Scribes: Qur’ans of the 10th to the 14th Centuries AD, London 1992, p.16).
Other leaves from this manuscript are in the Nasser D. Khalili Collection; The Art and History Trust Collection, now on loan to the Sackler Gallery, Washington; and the David Collection, Copenhagen. Two leaves were exhibited in Musée d'Art et d'Histoire, Geneva (see Islamic Calligraphy-Sacred and Secular Writings, Geneva, 1988, nos.23a and 23b, pp.100-104), whilst a further leaf was exhibited in the exhibition Writing the Word of God - Calligraphy and the Qur'an at the Museum of Replica Handbags s, Houston, 27 October - 3 February 2008 (published in D. Roxburgh et al, Writing the word of God: calligraphy and the Qur’an, Museum of Replica Handbags s Houston, 2007, p.46-47, fig.20).
Other leaves from the same manuscript were sold in these rooms, 19 October 2016, lot 159; 7 October 2015, lot 213; 8 October 2008, lot 19; 1 April 2009, lot 6 and 9 April 2008, lot 24.
The extremely fine illumination is reminiscent of earlier Ilkhanid imperial Qur'ans, such as Uljaytu's Mosul Qur'an and the superb muhaqqaq script looks forward to the monumental Qur'an attributed to Baysunghur but more likely commissioned by his grandfather Timur (r.1370-1405). Furthermore, David James observes that the calligrapher achieves "...Faultless perfection...equalled only by Suhrawardi in the Qur'an produced in Baghdad in the early years of the 14th century" (D. James, The Master Scribes: Qur’ans of the 10th to the 14th Centuries AD, London 1992, p.16).
Other leaves from this manuscript are in the Nasser D. Khalili Collection; The Art and History Trust Collection, now on loan to the Sackler Gallery, Washington; and the David Collection, Copenhagen. Two leaves were exhibited in Musée d'Art et d'Histoire, Geneva (see Islamic Calligraphy-Sacred and Secular Writings, Geneva, 1988, nos.23a and 23b, pp.100-104), whilst a further leaf was exhibited in the exhibition Writing the Word of God - Calligraphy and the Qur'an at the Museum of Replica Handbags s, Houston, 27 October - 3 February 2008 (published in D. Roxburgh et al, Writing the word of God: calligraphy and the Qur’an, Museum of Replica Handbags s Houston, 2007, p.46-47, fig.20).
Other leaves from the same manuscript were sold in these rooms, 19 October 2016, lot 159; 7 October 2015, lot 213; 8 October 2008, lot 19; 1 April 2009, lot 6 and 9 April 2008, lot 24.