Qur'an Manuscript with Lacquer Binding

Unknown

early 19th century · Manuscript: Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper Binding: pasteboard; painted and lacquered · Islamic Art

Notes in the front of this tiny Qur'an, copied in 'ghubar' script, state that it was originally given to the Qajar emperor Fath 'Ali Shah (reigned 1798–1834) so that he could carry it in his pocket at all times. In 1809 it was presented to Fath 'Ali Shah's grandson, Prince Tahmasp Mirza, on the occasion of his birth. The note states that the Qur'an was copied by the late 'Abd Muhammad 'Ali. The Qur'an is lavishly illuminated and bound into a lacquer binding signed by 'Ali Ashraf, a mid-18th–century lacquer painter, suggesting that the binding and the text block may not have been produced at the same time.

Artist

Unknown

Date

early 19th century

Medium

Manuscript: Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper Binding: pasteboard; painted and lacquered

Department

Islamic Art

Credit line

Gift of Shamina Talyarkhan, 2006