Unknown - Quran - India (Bihar) - 1425

An illuminated miniature manuscript folio from a Qur'an originating in the state of Bihar, India, circa 1425, written in the distinctive Bihari script (Bihari khan), a bold, highly stylised calligraphic hand unique to India. The Bihari script fell out of widespread use in the ate C16th, making surviving examples prized. The manuscript contains a singe illuminated medallions in the right margin marking a 10th division of the chapter, in this case verse 90. It is a little 'scruffy', but in generally good condition.

The folio contains scripture from Chapter 20 (Surah Ta-Ha), v.85-97, which recounts the episode of the Golden Calf during the exodus of the children of Israel. It exonerates Prophet Aaron for Balme, unlike the biblical account, placing full responsibility on the Samiri, a rebellious follower of Moses who created the golden calf. His confession that he cast dust from the footprint of the divine Messenger (the Angel Gabriel or Moses himself) into the molten calf to animate it, speaks to themes of spiritual perversion. Moses punished the Samiri with expulsion as a social outcast.

PLEASE NOTE. Shipping costs are not solely the cost of the delivery service itself. Included within the shipping price is the work undertaken to prepare the article, for photography, for uploading to Catawiki, for preparation and packaging the article securely and for transporting the article to the delivery agent for processing.

Also, please consider when bidding on this lot that this artwork is shipped from the UK. Import duties will now have to be paid by the recipient to the Postal Service when the parcel arrives in your country. This will likely vary between 5% and 20% of the sale price depending on your country's Import Rate, so please check this if you are concerned. This is a Tax collected on behalf of your Government and is not an additional fee charged by us.