Bidspirit auction | A LARGE MAMLUK QURAN LEAF,

A LARGE MAMLUK QURAN LEAF, EGYPT OR SYRIA, 14TH CENTURY - The leave are executed on burnished hand-made paper using black ink, gold leaf, and red and blue pigments. Each page features eleven lines of calligraphy in a refined Muhaqqaq script, characterised by elongated horizontal strokes and sharp vertical terminals. The text is fully vocalised in black and red ink, with additional small red tajwid or qiraat markings positioned above specific words. The calligraphic content comprises verses from Surah Al-Isra (The Night Journey), Chapter 17. One leaf contains text from the end of verse 21 to the middle of verse 31. The second leaf continues the text from verse 31 through to verse 42. Illumination includes gold rosette verse markers detailed with blue and red dots. Significant marginal decoration is present on both leaves, featuring teardrop-shaped medallions with central gold floral motifs and large circular shamsas (sunbursts) intricately decorated with gold, blue, and white pigments. The central portions of the shamsas contain stylized text designating Juz or Hizb divisions. Marginal notations in red ink, including words such as سلفه, ملاحه, and عدم, relate to the scholarly study or recitation of the text. Dimensions: 47 by 35cm