Description:

AN ILLUMINATED ZAND QURAN, SIGNED BY ABDULLAH IBN ASHUR AL-RANNANI AL-ESFAHANI, DATED 1232 AH / 1816-17 AD
Qajar Iran, early 19th century

Description:
An outstanding example of a finely illuminated Quran from Qajar-era Iran, the present manuscript is signed by the esteemed scribe Abdullah ibn Ashur al-Rannani al-Esfahani and dated 1232 AH / 1816-17 AD. Written in exquisite naskh script, the manuscript opens with a spectacular double-page frontispiece richly illuminated with interlacing floral arabesques in vibrant gold, cobalt, and crimson. The script is enclosed within a complex architectural arrangement of cartouches and borders, framed in fine gold rules.

Each page maintains an exceptional standard of design with fine illumination, surah headings in gold, and rosette verse markers throughout. The manuscript likely belongs to the Zand tradition of Quran production, known for its elegance and restrained opulence. The codex is bound in a contemporary maroon leather binding with a fore-edge flap.

Dimensions: 22cm x 15cm

Comparable Examples:

  • A Qajar Quran dated 1234 AH with similar architectural frontispiece and signature of a named Esfahani calligrapher sold at Sotheby’s, Arts of the Islamic World, 27 April 2021, Lot 27, for £43,750.

  • A manuscript Quran signed by a pupil of Mirza Ahmad Neyrizi, Esfahan, Qajar period, realised £35,280, Bonhams, Islamic and Indian Art, 29 October 2020, Lot 12.

  • A heavily illuminated Quran manuscript, Persia, dated 1235 AH, sold at Christie’s, Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds, 25 October 2018, Lot 50, for £47,500.

Note:
The calligrapher Abdullah ibn Ashur al-Rannani al-Esfahani was active during the late Zand and early Qajar periods, a time marked by refined manuscript production in southern Iran. Qurans from this era often combine Safavid ornamental heritage with Qajar taste for density and brightness. This manuscript, with its clear provenance and fully illuminated double bifolio, represents a superb addition to any collection of Qur’anic manuscripts or Persian calligraphy.

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

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