A magnificent illuminated Qur'an written in gold, Persia, Herat, Safavid, third quarter 16th century

Arabic manuscript on paper, 268 leaves plus 2 fly-leaves, 14 lines to the page, written in elegant naskh script in gold ink, diacritics in black, verses separated by gold and polychrome roundels, surah headings in white cursive script on gold and polychrome illuminated panels, margins ruled in gold and polychrome, later catchwords, illuminated marginal devices throughout, khamsa and 'ashr marked with white Kufic script in illuminated marginal roundels, hizb marked with illuminated cusped medallions, opening double page illuminated in colours and gold with 6 lines of gold naskh text in clouds on reserved ground, in contemporary Safavid stamped leather binding decorated with scrolling vines, with flap, the doublures with gilt and stamped scrolling decoration, the central medallion, corner-pieces and borders with fine découpe gilt arabesques on a polychrome ground

36 by 25cm.

Condition Report:
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