Folio from a Qur'an Manuscript

Object Name:: Folio from a non-illustrated manuscript

Date:: dated A.H. 485/A.D. 1092

Geography:: Attributed to Iran or Afghanistan

Medium:: Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper

Dimensions:: Ht. 10 1/2 in. (26.7 cm) W. 7 7/8 in. (20 cm)

Classification:: Codices

Credit Line:: Gift of H. Kevorkian, 1937

Accession Number:: 37.111.1

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 451

These two pages almost certainly come from a dispersed Qur'an dated A.H. 485/A.D. 1092 in "new style" script. This script was used mainly in the eastern Islamic lands after paper replaced parchment as writing material in the tenth century. The shafts of the letters are elongated, extending well above each line; for this reason, the usual page format for this type of script is vertical. The vowels and diacritical marks, rendered in blue, red, gold, and silver, add a touch of color. The page on the right is also notable for the presence of an elaborate vertical cartouche referring to the number of verses, which, in both pages, are from Sura 30 ("of the Romans").

Hagop Kevorkian, New York (until 1937; gifted to MMA)

Museum für Islamische Kunst, Pergamonmuseum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin. "The Arts of Islam. Masterpieces from the M.M.A.," June 15, 1981–August 8, 1981, no. 17.

"Masterpieces from The Metropolitan Museum of Art New York." In The Arts of Islam. Berlin, 1981. no. 17, pp. 64-65, ill. p. 65 (b/w).

Timelines
Iran, 1000–1400 A.D.

Department

Islamic Art (14,462)

Object Type / Material

Codices (1,205)

Folios (1,110)

Gold (17,216)

Illuminated manuscripts (733)

Ink (31,422)

Manuscripts (1,864)

Metal (70,270)