Description:

Lot 133. AN ILLUMINATED FRAMED BIHARI QURAN LEAF
Sultanate India, probably 15th century

This finely preserved Qur’an leaf exemplifies the distinctive Bihari script, a uniquely Indian calligraphic style characterized by its broad, sweeping horizontal strokes, rounded letter forms, and elegantly tapering verticals. Written in dense black ink with key words highlighted in red and gold, the text is harmoniously arranged within ruled borders, framed by delicate blue and gold floral illumination.

At the center of the composition is an exquisite illuminated panel in gold and red, containing a verse marker set within a geometric cartouche enriched with fine vegetal ornamentation. This style of ornamentation is emblematic of the refined manuscript production of the late Delhi or early Bengal Sultanates, reflecting both Persianate influence and indigenous Indian aesthetic sensibilities.

The Bihari script flourished between the 14th and 16th centuries in northern India and is especially associated with royal and scholarly commissions. Its rhythmic flow and monumental beauty make it one of the most visually expressive forms of Qur’anic calligraphy. This example, mounted and framed, stands as a superb witness to the sophistication of Indian Islamic manuscript art in the medieval period.

Length x Width: 53 x 43cm

Folio: 37 x 27cm 

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

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