Qur'an Bookbinding with Floral Arabesques and an Inscription from the Hadith

early 17th century

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 462

This elaborate book-cover, with its medallions containing elegant and complex floral ornaments, was certainly intended to protect a high quality manuscript. The Arabic inscription that runs around the plates' borders clearly indicates that this cover was meant for a copy of the Qur'an: it mentions words traditionally attributed to the prophet Muhammad, including the phrase "He who wants to speak with God should read the Qur'an."

Artwork Details

Overview

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Provenance

Title: Qur'an Bookbinding with Floral Arabesques and an Inscription from the Hadith
Date: early 17th century
Geography: Made in Iran
Medium: Leather; stamped, tooled, and gilded
Dimensions: H. 9 1/2 in. (24.1 cm)
W. 7 3/8 in. (18.7 cm)
Classification: Codices
Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1908
Object Number: 08.124.1
Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

More Artwork

In the same gallery

In the same medium

From the same time and place

A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.

Bookbinding (Jild-i kitab), Leather; stamped and gilded — Bookbinding (Jild-i kitab)
17th century

The Lovers, Riza-yi 'Abbasi Iranian, Opaque watercolor, ink, and gold on paper — The Lovers
Riza-yi 'Abbasi
dated 1039 AH/1630 CE

Portable Qur’an Manuscript, Ink and gold on paper; leather binding — Portable Qur’an Manuscript
17th century

"Portrait of the Russian Ambassador, Prince Andrey Priklonskiy", Folio from the Davis Album, 'Ali Quli Jabbadar Iranian, Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper — "Portrait of the Russian Ambassador, Prince Andrey Priklonskiy", Folio from the Davis Album
'Ali Quli Jabbadar
dated 1048 AH/1673–74 CE

"Two Old Men in Discussion Outside a Hut", Folio from the Davis Album, 'Ali Quli Jabbadar Iranian, Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper — "Two Old Men in Discussion Outside a Hut", Folio from the Davis Album
'Ali Quli Jabbadar
dated 1085 AH/1674–75 CE

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.