Qur'an Bookbinding with Floral Arabesques and an Inscription from the Hadith

Unknown

early 17th century · Leather; stamped, tooled, and gilded · Islamic Art

This elaborate book-cover, with its medallions containing elegant and complex floral ornaments, was certainly intended to protect a high quality manuscript. The Arabic inscription that runs around the plates' borders clearly indicates that this cover was meant for a copy of the Qur'an: it mentions words traditionally attributed to the prophet Muhammad, including the phrase "He who wants to speak with God should read the Qur'an."

Artist

Unknown

Date

early 17th century

Medium

Leather; stamped, tooled, and gilded

Department

Islamic Art

Credit line

Rogers Fund, 1908