Description:

A LARGE MAGHRIBI QUR’AN BIFOLIUM, NORTH AFRICA OR ANDALUSIA, 13TH CENTURY
North Africa or Al-Andalus, 13th century

Description:
Ink, gouache, and gold on vellum; Arabic manuscript in bold maghribi script, written in dark brown ink with red vocalisation, blue and green diacritical marks. Verse markers in the form of gold roundels and palmettes, with polychrome embellishments. The parchment shows natural ageing and light staining, with minor marginal repairs and typical wear consistent with early manuscript use.

Dimensions: 38 x 22 cm

A striking example of Qur’anic calligraphy from the western Islamic world, this bifolium reflects the distinctive aesthetic of Maghribi script traditions developed in North Africa and Al-Andalus. The use of vellum, generous letterforms, and gold detailing are all indicative of a manuscript produced for an elite or institutional setting.

Comparable examples:

  • A Maghribi Qur’an bifolium, Andalusia or North Africa, 13th century, sold at Sotheby’s, Arts of the Islamic World, London, 25 April 2018, Lot 8 — £10,625.

  • A Qur’an leaf in Maghribi script, 13th century, sold at Christie’s, Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds, London, 26 October 2017, Lot 22 — £8,125.

  • A large Qur’an bifolium on vellum, 13th century, sold at Bonhams, Islamic and Indian Art, London, 10 June 2019, Lot 5 — £9,375.

Note:
This bifolium exemplifies the refined Maghribi tradition and would have formed part of a lavishly produced Qur’anic manuscript, possibly intended for use in a mosque or scholarly institution.

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May 6, 2025 1:00 PM BST
London, United Kingdom

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