A superb example of an illuminated chapter headpiece with beginning verses of the chapter, Mughal, India C1750. This finely illuminated sarlawh (chapter heading) marks the opening. of Surat As-Saffat (chapter 37, Those Angels Lined up in Ranks), a Meccan surah of 182 verses. The rubricated header panels names the chapter and confirms its Meccan revelation. Below, in bold black naskh on a burnished gold ground, the test opens with the triple oath: "By those [angels] ranged in ranks, and those who drive [the clouds] forcefully, and those who recite [divine] remembrance": - affirming God's oneness, His dominion over the heavens and earth, and the points of sunrise, and the adornment of the lowest heaven with stars as both beauty; and how the spiritual heavens are guarded bu Angels against rebellious devils cast out from eavesdropping on the celestial assembly. The illumination is exceptional, with a glorious Mughal header, densely worked polychrome floral sprays, verse markings in gold roundels, the scripture enfolded by gold ground clouds, and a wonderful golden floral border. This is an exceptional piece. Please note that shipping costs are not solely the cost of the postal 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 postal 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.