Description:

Lot 135. AN ILLUMINATED FRAMED BIHARI QUR’AN LEAF
Sultanate India, probably 15th century

This fine Qur’anic leaf, written in the elegant and highly recognizable Bihari script, exemplifies the refined manuscript tradition of Sultanate India. The page is composed of large, bold black ink letters on a cream paper ground, accented with red and gold diacritics and vowel markers in blue. Between the lines, delicate rubricated annotations in fine red ink indicate pronunciation and recitation cues, reflecting the scholarly care of the manuscript’s production.

At the center of the folio is a beautifully illuminated gold and red panel, marking the beginning of a new sura (chapter). The decoration combines geometric and vegetal motifs with restrained touches of lapis and white pigment, harmoniously balancing calligraphy and ornamentation.

The Bihari script, used predominantly in India between the 14th and 16th centuries, is notable for its thick horizontal strokes, rounded forms, and deep spacing between lines. It was a regional adaptation of early Kufic and Naskh styles, uniquely suited to recitation and pedagogical purposes.

Framed elegantly, this Qur’an leaf stands as a masterful example of Indian Islamic manuscript art, revealing the intersection of Persianate influence and indigenous innovation during the height of the Sultanate period.

Length x Width: 68 x 46cm

Folio: 51 x 30cm

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

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