Manuscript of the Qur’an, with lacquer binding

ManuscriptsPersian18th century

Manuscript of the Qur’an, with lacquer binding

1794 and 1812-1813

Description

The Qur'an manuscript opens with double illuminated text pages of sura 1 and beginning of sura 2. The remaining text is written in black ink in naskh script,15 lines to a page. Sura headings are written in gold on red ground. The colophon at the end of the Qur'an gives the names of the scribe, Hasan al-Khwansari who finished copying it in Rabi I 1209 H (October 1794) for Hajj Muhammad Rafi' Khalaf. The lacquer binding on the outside is arranged with a central medallion and pendants and four corner pieces. There are further cartouches with inscriptions in the framing border. The inner covers are decorated with floral arabesques on red ground. The cover bears the date 1227 H (1812-13).

Classification

Manuscripts

Medium

Watercolor, gold-colored pigments, copper particles, and lacquer over brass layer on pasteboard (covers) Ink, gold, and colors on paper (text)

Culture

Persian

Period

Qajar period

Century

18th century

Division

Asian and Mediterranean Art

Department

Department of Islamic & Later Indian Art

Dimensions

20.9 × 13.6 × 3.1 cm (8 1/4 × 5 3/8 × 1 1/4 in.) Text area: 15.5 × 9.6 cm (6 1/8 × 3 3/4 in.)

Provenance

Ezzat-Malek Soudavar, Geneva, Switzerland (by 2014), by descent; to her son Abolala Soudavar, Houston, Texas (2014), gift; to Harvard Art Museums, 2014. Note: Ezzat-Malek Soudavar (1913-2014) formed this collection over a period of sixty years. She purchased the works of art on the international art market.

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Manuscript of the Qur’an, with lacquer binding | Harvard Art Museums | KenAI