Description:

A QURAN SECTION BAGHDAD SCHOOL, 13TH CENTURY

A Quran Section, Baghdad School, 13th Century

Description:
A rare and early Quranic manuscript, attributed to the Baghdad School, dating from the 13th century. This significant section of the Quran includes:

  • Surah Ghafir (40): Verses 66–85 (end)

  • Surah Fussilat (41): Entire, 54 verses

  • Surah Al-Shura (42): Entire, 53 verses

Written in large, clear naskh script, this manuscript features gold rosette verse markers and surah headings elegantly highlighted in lapis-blue panels with gold illumination. The calligraphy is rhythmic and confident, conforming to stylistic norms seen in high Abbasid-era Qurans, especially those produced under the aesthetic traditions of the Baghdad School.

The layout demonstrates careful spacing, allowing the illuminated medallions and marginal markers to guide the reader’s eye smoothly through the sacred text. This was likely a ceremonial or scholarly manuscript, produced for a patron of high rank, given the size and sophistication of its illumination.

This section bears significant historical and artistic importance as an early Islamic manuscript, embodying the refined aesthetics and scholastic dedication of 13th-century Baghdad, then a renowned center of Quranic arts.

Dimensions:
Length: 42 cm
Width: 27.5 cm

Comparable Examples:

  • A complete Baghdad School Quran, dated to the mid-13th century, sold at Bonhams Islamic and Indian Art Sale, 2021, for £112,750, praised for its large scale and use of gold surah panels.

  • A Quran bifolio attributed to the school of Yaqut al-Musta’simi, Baghdad, late 13th century, is held in the Chester Beatty Library and cited as a masterwork of classical Abbasid calligraphy.

  • A Quran fragment of similar scale and layout, dated to circa 1250 and attributed to Baghdad, fetched £97,250 at Sotheby’s Arts of the Islamic World Sale, 2017, noted for its exceptional preservation and golden verse markings.

Note:
Manuscripts from the Baghdad School are particularly sought after for their role in shaping classical Quranic calligraphy during the Islamic Golden Age. This section is not only a devotional artifact but also a milestone in Islamic manuscript art, reflecting both theology and aesthetics. Its preservation, monumental script, and detailed gold ornamentation make it an outstanding acquisition for collectors of Islamic codices, Quranic history, or Abbasid-era illumination

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

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