Description:

Lot 134. A FRAMED ILLUMINATED LARGE MAMLUK QUR’AN BIFOLIO
Egypt, circa 1330

This magnificent double-page Qur’anic folio exemplifies the refined calligraphy and illumination of the Mamluk period. Executed on fine parchment or paper, the text is written in an elegant muhaqqaq script, one of the six canonical scripts prized for its clarity and grandeur, frequently reserved for royal or monumental Qur’ans.

The folio is divided into two columns of evenly spaced lines, punctuated by gold rosettes serving as verse markers. The sura headings are rendered in a larger, more elongated hand and picked out in gold, often accompanied by marginal annotations in red ink and decorative devices extending into the margins. The controlled rhythm and confident spacing of the script, together with the balance between text and ornament, convey both piety and imperial authority.

Illuminated Qur’ans of this scale and precision were commissioned under the patronage of Mamluk sultans and amirs, reflecting Egypt’s position as a major center of Islamic scholarship and manuscript production in the 14th century. The folio’s survival in such fine condition, now beautifully framed, attests to both its artistic and devotional significance.

Length x Width: 55 x 45cm

Folio: 39 x 28.5cm

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November 4, 2025 1:00 PM GMT
London, United Kingdom

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