Quran - Quran Frontpiece - 1575

A stunning illuminated opening front-piece and facing page, from a dispersed 16th Century Middle-East Qur'an, containing the first chapter of the Qur'an, Surah al-Fatiha (The Opening). This is recited in every cycle of the five daily prayers. To the rear of the facing page is the illuminated panel for chapter 2 of the Qur'an, Surah Al-Baqarah (The Cow) with its heading and verse/word count), v.1-5. This is an exceptional and rare manuscript, unmounted to give options for display,

The decoration is built of gold-ground floral scrollwork, cusped blue cartouches enclosing polychrome palmettes, inter-linear Persian gloss in red, foliate marginal medallion, and rule work borders in red, green and gold; naturalistic tulip and rose sprays throughout, characteristic of Persian Safavid period Middle-East illumination. The illumination work is simple outstanding.

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