Description:

A Mamluk Qur’an Juz', Egypt or Syria, 14th Century

A superbly illuminated Qur’anic section (Juz’) from the Mamluk period, likely produced in Egypt or Syria in the 14th century, featuring Surahs Al-‘Ankabut (29) and Al-Qasas (28). The manuscript is written in black muhaqqaq script, with five bold lines per folio, exemplifying the grandeur of Mamluk calligraphic tradition.

Each verse is separated by gold roundels outlined in blue, centered with a blue dot. The margins are decorated with illuminated medallions, and the manuscript includes two surah headings, skillfully executed with gold and vegetal illumination. The opening and closing folios are particularly striking: three lines of text rest on a lush leafy ground, surrounded by rectilinear borders in gold and lapis tones, hallmarks of Mamluk manuscript production.

The illumination style—characterized by broad geometric frames, vegetal scrollwork, and deep color palettes—reflects the refined artistic culture of Mamluk scriptoriums. Housed in a later red leather binding, this juz’ represents the enduring influence of the Mamluk Qur’anic aesthetic on Islamic manuscript history.

Dimensions:
Length: 22.5 cm
Width: 16.5 cm

 

Comparable Examples:

  • A Mamluk Qur’an juz', dated circa 1350, sold at Christie’s, Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds, October 2019, for £68,750, praised for its clarity of script and symmetrical illumination.

  • A 14th-century Mamluk Qur’an, formerly from the Nasser D. Khalili Collection, displayed at the British Museum, noted for its use of five-line muhaqqaq format and dense vegetal ornamentation.

  • A similar juz’ in the David Collection, Copenhagen, shares comparable layout and medallion design, offering scholarly parallels in Mamluk manuscript production.

 

Note:
This manuscript is a fine testament to the calligraphic majesty and theological reverence characteristic of Qur’anic manuscripts during the Mamluk dynasty. The use of muhaqqaq script, reserved for the most prestigious manuscripts, underscores its status as a luxury devotional object, ideal for collectors or institutions seeking to preserve Islamic artistic heritage at its height.

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

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