Description:

 A LARGE MAGHRIBI QUR'AN BIFOLIUM, NORTH AFRICA OR ANDALUSIA, 13TH CENTURY
North Africa or Al-Andalus (present-day Spain), 13th century

Description:
Ink, gold, and polychrome on vellum or thick cream paper; Arabic text in bold Maghribi script in dark brown ink with vocalization in red and blue, diacritics in green, and gold rosette verse markers with radiating petals. This striking bifolium displays wide spacing and strong rhythm typical of Qur’ans produced in the Maghrib or Andalusia during the medieval Islamic period.

Dimensions: 38 x 22 cm

The bifolium preserves a fine example of the Maghribi style, characterized by its rounded letterforms and clear, decorative emphasis on vowel markings and diacritics. The text is well preserved despite evident signs of devotional use, with some staining consistent with age and handling. The large format suggests it likely belonged to a grand Qur’an manuscript intended for communal or mosque use.

Comparable examples:

  • A bifolium from a large Maghribi Qur’an, 13th century, sold at Sotheby’s, London, 25 April 2018, Arts of the Islamic World, Lot 15, for £8,125.

  • Another large-format Maghribi Qur’an leaf, attributed to 13th-century Spain or Morocco, sold at Christie’s, London, Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds, 26 October 2017, Lot 47, for £6,875.

  • A similar folio, with comparable script and ornamentation, was offered at Bonhams, London, 23 April 2012, Islamic and Indian Art, Lot 10, realizing £7,500.

Note:
Manuscripts in Maghribi script are among the most recognizable in the Islamic calligraphic tradition. Their aesthetic qualities, including generous use of gold and bold calligraphic strokes, reflect the Andalusian and North African manuscript culture of the period. Surviving bifolia of this size and quality are increasingly rare and highly sought after by collectors and institutions alike.

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May 6, 2025 1:00 PM BST
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