Qurʼān

Origin: Qurʼān is typical exemplar of a Mamluk Qurʼān from Egypt and North Africa. The carpet title and opening illuminations are stylistically similar to Qurʼāns of this period, with the three medallions incorporated into the borders of surahs 1 and 2 being very characteristic of Egyptian and north African Qurʼāns. The use of predominently blue and gold with red accents is indicative of a commission by a wealthy Egyptian family of the Mamluk Sultanate. This Qurʼān was probably broken up into parts for inheritance and the equal division of wealth among the family.,Layout: 13 lines per page with small illuminated rondels in blue and gold leaf marking verses; illuminated surah headings in rectangular cartouches mark the openings of each chapter. Hizb and half hibz divisions are marked by shamas and mandorlas, respectively.,Script: Text in fully vocalized black muhaqqaq script contemporary with the time of creation. Chapter headings written in Thuluth lettered in blue outlined in black. Waqf stops and vowel corrections are written in red ink.,Binding: Bound in 18th century natural Morocco with a flap on the left side. Borders are ruled and blind stamped in a floral motif, with darkened leather to highlight the cover decoration, with a medallion blind stamped in the center of the front and back boards. Leather is cut across center horizontally, apparently from another binding that was recut to size, with repaired edges and flyleaves added to front and back text block.