A Qur'an leaf in Kufic script on vellum from the...
text: Qur'an, surah al-Mu'minun (XXIII), middle of verse 52 to end of verse 55
Arabic manuscript on vellum, 5 lines to the page written in bold angular Kufic in brown ink, vowels and diacritics in blue, red and green, verso with gold illuminated marginal medallion marking khams
43.6 by 29.5cm.
Condition Report:
The leaf has areas of repair affecting the margins and the second and third lines of the text, as shown in the illustration. Light creasing and buckling to the vellum, consistent with age. Minor discolouration, some pigment loss and natural corrosion to the ink. As viewed.
Catalogue Note:
The Mushaf al-Hadinah ('Nurse’s Qur’an') is a remarkable historical document testifying to the generous patronage of influential women within the Zirid courts. Commissioned by a former nurse of the Zirid Prince al-Mu'izz Ibn Badis, it is among the most striking examples of ‘broken cursive’ and arguably the most important North African manuscript commissioned by a female patron.
The Zirid dynasty of Ifrikiya was the first great Berber dynasty of North Africa; established initially as a principality by the Egyptian Fatimids in an attempt to provide a military cushion against the hostile tribes of the region, the Zirids eventually took the reins of government entirely into their own hands. According to the Arab historian Ibn Khaldun, the reign of al-Mu'izz Ibn Badis (1016-62 AD) was the most luxurious and ostentatious of all the Zirids. It was he who renounced his vasalship to the Fatimids and proclaimed allegiance to the Abbasid Caliphs. It is hardly surprising that a culture of such wealth and confidence produced a manuscript of this size and quality.
The impressive artistic legacy of the Zirids is displayed by the Mushaf al-Hadinah through its idiosyncratic script, displaying an extreme contrast between the triangular medial letters terminating finely drawn tails. The colophon to this manuscript is held in the Musée National d’Art Islamique de Raqqada in Tunisia and states that 'Ali ibn Ahmad al-Warraq was responsible for its entire production, from writing, vowelling, marking and gilding to binding. The scribe himself completed this outstanding project under the supervision of Durra, the female secretary (al-katiba) (Blair 2006, p.155).
A bifolium from the same manuscript is in the National Institute of Archaeology and Art, Tunis (see Lings & Safadi 1976, pp.30-1, no.25). A further bifolium can be found in the Ibrahim Ibn al-Aghlab Museum, Kairouan (see Lings 1976, p.18, pl.10), whilst two bifolia were sold in these rooms 9 April 2008, lot 7 and 6 April 2011, lot 172. Two further leaves from the manuscript were sold in these rooms 14 April 2010, lots 2 and 4.
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text: Qur'an, surah al-Mu'minun (XXIII), middle of verse 52 to end of verse 55
Arabic manuscript on vellum, 5 lines to the page written in bold angular Kufic in brown ink, vowels and diacritics in blue, red and green, verso with gold illuminated marginal medallion marking khams
43.6 by 29.5cm.
Condition Report:
The leaf has areas of repair affecting the margins and the second and third lines of the text, as shown in the illustration. Light creasing and buckling to the vellum, consistent with age. Minor discolouration, some pigment loss and natural corrosion to the ink. As viewed.
Catalogue Note:
The Mushaf al-Hadinah ('Nurse’s Qur’an') is a remarkable historical document testifying to the generous patronage of influential women within the Zirid courts. Commissioned by a former nurse of the Zirid Prince al-Mu'izz Ibn Badis, it is among the most striking examples of ‘broken cursive’ and arguably the most important North African manuscript commissioned by a female patron.
The Zirid dynasty of Ifrikiya was the first great Berber dynasty of North Africa; established initially as a principality by the Egyptian Fatimids in an attempt to provide a military cushion against the hostile tribes of the region, the Zirids eventually took the reins of government entirely into their own hands. According to the Arab historian Ibn Khaldun, the reign of al-Mu'izz Ibn Badis (1016-62 AD) was the most luxurious and ostentatious of all the Zirids. It was he who renounced his vasalship to the Fatimids and proclaimed allegiance to the Abbasid Caliphs. It is hardly surprising that a culture of such wealth and confidence produced a manuscript of this size and quality.
The impressive artistic legacy of the Zirids is displayed by the Mushaf al-Hadinah through its idiosyncratic script, displaying an extreme contrast between the triangular medial letters terminating finely drawn tails. The colophon to this manuscript is held in the Musée National d’Art Islamique de Raqqada in Tunisia and states that 'Ali ibn Ahmad al-Warraq was responsible for its entire production, from writing, vowelling, marking and gilding to binding. The scribe himself completed this outstanding project under the supervision of Durra, the female secretary (al-katiba) (Blair 2006, p.155).
A bifolium from the same manuscript is in the National Institute of Archaeology and Art, Tunis (see Lings & Safadi 1976, pp.30-1, no.25). A further bifolium can be found in the Ibrahim Ibn al-Aghlab Museum, Kairouan (see Lings 1976, p.18, pl.10), whilst two bifolia were sold in these rooms 9 April 2008, lot 7 and 6 April 2011, lot 172. Two further leaves from the manuscript were sold in these rooms 14 April 2010, lots 2 and 4.
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