Folio from a Qur'an Manuscript

Unknown

9th century · Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on parchment · Islamic Art

This small-scale Qur'an was used as an intimate personal object, probably worn or carried as an amulet during travel. Despite its diminutive size, it shares many features with other early Qur'ans, which were often much larger and used as memory guides for public recitations. Here, densely packed writing in kufic script is lengthened horizontally, and red dots mark short vowels.

Artist

Unknown

Date

9th century

Medium

Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on parchment

Department

Islamic Art

Credit line

Rogers Fund, 1962