A Leaf From The ‘five Surahs’, In Muhaqqaq Script, Persia Or Mesopotamia, Probably Jalayrid Baghdad, Circa 1370 Ad

Asset Category
Location
London
Catalog Name
Arts of the islamic world 19 october 2016
Lot Number
159

A Leaf From The ‘five Surahs’, In Muhaqqaq Script, Persia Or Mesopotamia, Probably Jalayrid Baghdad, Circa 1370 Ad

Text: surah al-saba (XXXIV), part of verse 29 to part of verse 31 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 central knotted motifs, text block ruled in blue, gold and red 43.8 by 34.5cm.

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 (Soudavar 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” (James 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 Fine Arts, Houston, 27 October – 3 February 2008 (published in Roxburgh 2007, p.46-47, fig.20). Two leaves were sold in these rooms, 7 October 2015, lot 213, whilst a bifolium was sold in these rooms 8 October 2008, lot 19. Further leaves were sold on 1 April 2009, lot 6 and 9 April 2008, lot 24.

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