AN ILLUMINATED OTTOMAN QURAN, 18TH CENTURY

Arabic manuscript on paper, each page with 14 ll. written in bold black naskh script in clouds reserved against a gold sprinkled ground, gold roundel verse markers outlined in black, diacritics and vowels in red, occasional marginal commentary notes indicating 'juz' and hizb'in red ink, surah headings in large white thuluth script on cartouches with a gilt blue floral illuminated ground, all ruled in gilt and blue borders, two opening bifolia fully illuminated in gold and polychrome framing 6 lines in clouds reserved against a gold sprinkled ground, end of the text with prayers and dedication. The final page signed "written by Muhammad Aref al-Harawi". In later gilt Qajar lacquer binding with central cartouche enclosing spandrels containing scrolling floral vines. 12 by 18 cm.