Qur'an

Qur'an

This Qur’an comprises a compilation of loose folios within an embossed decorative leather wrap cover, a type of construction characteristic of West African bookmaking traditions, particularly devotional Islamic works such as prayer books or Qur'ans. The text is written in the barnavi script (meaning "from Borno"), which developed in the area of Nigeria and Chad and is distinguished by bold application, a combination of round and angular letters, and distinct, short letter shafts. Chapters and sections are divided by decorative grids composed of geometric patterns with simple repeating motifs—circles, crosses, and double-Ts, rendered in red, brown, and sparkling yellow. In addition to reflecting the artistic vibrancy of West Africa, these patterns bear talismanic and other regional symbols that transcend the devotional context of the Qur'an, emphasizing the many layers of meaning that can exist in the same work of art.

Deniz Beyazit in [MMA 2021]

Private Collection, Suffolk, England (2014–18); sale, Reeman Dansie, Colchester, Essex, UK, November 20, 2018, no. 958; [ Art Passages, San Francisco, 2018–19; sold to MMA]

Recent Acquisitions, A Selection: 2018–20 . Part II Late Eighteenth Century to Contemporary (2021). pp. 20–21, ill. p. 21.