Folio from a Qur'an Manuscript

Unknown

dated A.H. 485/ 1092 CE · Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper · Islamic Art

This page and no. 37.111.1 almost certainly come from a dispersed Qur'an dated A.H. 485/A.D. 1092 in "new style" script. This script was used mainly in the eastern Islamic lands after paper replaced parchment as writing material in the tenth century. The shafts of the letters are elongated, extending well above each line; for this reason, the usual page format for this type of script is vertical. The vowels and diacritical marks, rendered in blue, red, gold, and silver, add a touch of color. The page on the right is also notable for the presence of an elaborate vertical cartouche referring to the number of verses, which, in both pages, are from Sura 30 ("of the Romans").

Artist

Unknown

Date

dated A.H. 485/ 1092 CE

Medium

Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper

Department

Islamic Art

Credit line

Gift of H. Kevorkian, 1937