Divers - Qur’an Manuscript Leaf – Early 17th Century (ca. 1600–1630) - 1620

Qur’an Manuscript Leaf – Early 17th Century (around 1600–1630)

Ink and gold on hand-made, polished paper – recto & verso

A very fine and rare double-sided manuscript leaf from a Qur’an, dated to the early 17th century (ca. 1600–1630). This leaf is a surviving fragment of a historical Qur’anic manuscript and reflects the high calligraphic and artistic standards of Islamic book production during this period.

The manuscript is executed on hand-made and hand-polished paper (laid paper / Büttenpapier), as commonly used in the Islamic world during the late 16th and early 17th centuries. The text is written in a fine and harmonious naskh script in brown/black ink, enriched with red vowel marks, blue and green diacritical signs, and extensive hand-applied gilding.

The text is framed by a gold border, while gold roundels mark the ends of the āyāt. In the margin appears the liturgical annotation “ḥizb” (حزب) in red, indicating the traditional division of the Qur’an for recitation. The balanced composition, generous margins, and refined line quality testify to the work of a skilled and experienced scribe.




Text

Calligraphed verses from the Holy Qur'an, recto and verso.
Including passages from Surah Al-Mu'minun (23), verses 19–23, describing creation, the blessings of nature, and the mission of Prophet Noah (Nūḥ).




Dating & Origin

Period: Early 17th century (ca. 1600–1630)

Origin: Near East or Persia
(most likely Iran or the Ottoman Empire; possibly Egypt, Syria, or Tunisia)





Materials & Technique

Hand-made and polished paper (laid paper / Büttenpapier)

Brown/black ink

Red, blue, and green pigments

Hand-applied gilding (gold leaf)


The binding shown in the last images is for reference only.
This lot consists exclusively of one detached double-sided manuscript leaf (2 pages).
The original binding is not included in the sale.



Dimensions

Leaf: 21.5 × 15 cm

Text area: 10.5 × 6 cm





Condition

Good overall condition for a 17th-century manuscript.
There are minor age-related traces, including small edge discolorations and minimal soot or fire-related marks, consistent with the age and history of the object. The text remains fully intact and clearly legible. The gilding and inks are remarkably well preserved and retain their vivid appearance.




Rarity

A very rare original Qur’anic manuscript leaf from an early period. Authentic detached Qur’an leaves of this quality and date are seldom encountered on the market and are highly sought after by collectors of Islamic art, manuscripts, and religious heritage.




Shipping

Careful, fully insured shipping, depending on the destination country.