Mughal Qur’an, copied entirely on 31 leaves, in Arabic, illuminated manuscript on fine polished paper [India (possibly Kashmir), c. 1780]

Mughal Quran, copied entirely on 31 leaves, in Arabic, illuminated manuscript on fine polished paper [India (possibly Kashmir), c. 1780]

31 leaves (plus two later flyleaves), complete, single column, 55 lines miniature black naskh per page, surah headings against gilt banners, some diacritics in red, divisions of the text marked throughout with the margins in red, a few notes also inscribed to the margins in black (in a contemporary hand), gilt floral spiralling vines bordering every page of the Quran, opening two pages with additional polychrome decorations to the outer margins, ownership inscriptions in Arabic to final free endpaper, a few scattered smudges and chips to paint, some small repairs to gutters of leaves, some faint water-staining to upper outer corners else good overall condition, 245 by 145 mm.; housed in contemporary red morocco, centrally stamped ornaments to covers, coloured in gilt, with ruling around the boards also in gilt, spine ends and extremities a little rubbed

A fine and exceptionally detailed Quran copied on 60 pages (31 leaves), probably commissioned by a high-ranking and influential patron for talismanic use. Such an item is unlikely to have been used for daily readings and would rather have been owned as a fine example of the calligraphic arts and the beauty of the Quran as an object.

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