Description:

Lot 79. AN ILLUMINATED MAMLUK QURAN BIFOLIO
Circa 1400

Executed in black ink with gold and polychrome illumination on polished paper, this finely written Mamluk Qur’an bifolio displays two pages of closely ruled horizontal lines of naskh script. The text is punctuated throughout with finely rendered gold rosettes and marginal roundels, each delicately highlighted in blue. The illumination shows the characteristic Mamluk palette of burnished gold against a warm cream ground, with the inked letters exhibiting crisp, confident strokes. The paper shows light tonal variation and scattered faint stains consistent with age, while the pigments retain notable clarity.

Both sides of the bifolio contain continuous Qur’anic text, framed within ruled borders enriched with gold. The verso presents similar script and decoration, maintaining the visual coherence and meticulous craftsmanship associated with high-quality Mamluk manuscript production.

Qur’an manuscripts of the Mamluk period are distinguished by their elegant naskh calligraphy and lavish yet controlled use of gold, produced for educational, devotional, and ceremonial contexts. Bifolios such as this were originally part of large-format, multi-volume Qur’ans commissioned for mosques, madrasas, and endowed libraries.

Measurements: 72 × 50 cm 

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December 16, 2025 1:00 PM GMT
London, United Kingdom

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