A magnificent and highly rare illuminated Qur’an juz' (XXVI), probably Herat, 13th century

text: Juz' XXVI, surah al-Ahqaf (XLVI) v.1 to surah al-Dhariyat (LI) end of v.30

Arabic manuscript on polished paper, 65 leaves plus 2 fly-leaves, 3 lines to the page, written in black muhaqqaq script, with Persian interlinear translation in smaller black script, verses separated by gold and polychrome florets comprising the word 'ayah' in the centre, text within narrow gold, red and green borders and blue rules (some re-drawn in a lighter blue), opening illuminated folio 1.a with a square of illumination composed of scrolling split-palmettes and a knotted geometric border in two tones of gold, the centre with a roundel with a foliated cruciform motif in white against a black ground, a corresponding roundel stretching into the margin, followed by a double bifolium illuminated in colours and gold with strapwork borders, the bifolium with titles in large Eastern Kufic script amid elegant foliate scrolls in reserve on black ground within a cartouche on an illuminated panel, surah headings in gold thuluth script amid gold foliate scrolls on a red hatched ground, illuminated marginal devices of varying designs throughout, five large ornamental illuminated panels which include the 5 times of prayer in Eastern Kufic script in reserve on black and red hatched grounds, later stamped leather binding, with flap

20.2 by 20.2cm.

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