Folios from a Qur'an Manuscript

Unknown

10th century · Ink and gold on parchment · Islamic Art

These two leaves from an early Qur'an are written in kufic script in dark brown ink, with vowel markings in red. The chapter heading, with two ornate arabesque leaves in the margin, is richly gilded. The text is from the end of Sura 5 (al-Ma'ida, "of the Table Spread") and the beginning of Sura 6 (al-An'am, "of the Cattle"). A circular, lobed motif on the upper corner of the margin bears the words "one hundred seventeen," referring to the number of verses on the page.

Artist

Unknown

Date

10th century

Medium

Ink and gold on parchment

Department

Islamic Art

Credit line

Gift of Kirkor Minassian, 1926