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Qur'an

Indian (Artist)
15th century (Timurid)
ink, opaque watercolor, and gold paint on thin laid paper covered with brown leather with gold and reddish-brown leather doublures
(Manuscripts and Rare Books, Islamic World , Islamic Manuscripts)

Fluid letters undulate across the page punctuated by illuminated medallions. They focus the reader’s eyes on the sacred words in this elaborately decorated copy of the Qur’an—the Muslim sacred text communicated by God (Allah) and dictated by the angel Gabriel to the prophet Muhammad. Inscriptions in the margins document readers’ interpretations of the text.

The presence of the seal of the Ottoman sultan Bāyezīd II (r. 1481–1512) on various pages indicates that this lavish copy of the Qur’an was sent from India to Istanbul, sometime between the late 15th and early 16th century, perhaps as a diplomatic gift. At the time, Indian Muslims participated in a network of commercial, diplomatic, and artistic exchanges that extended throughout Asia Europe, and Africa.

This large-format, illuminated Timurid copy of the Qur'an is believed to have been produced in northern India in the 9th century AH/15th century CE. The manuscript opens with a series of illuminated frontispieces. The main text is written in a large, vocalized polychrome mu'aqqaq script. Marginal explanations of the readings of particular words and phrases are in thuluth and naskhi scripts, and there is interlinear Persian translation in red naskhi script. The fore-edge flap of the gold-tooled, brown leather binding is inscribed with verses 77 through 80 from Chapter 56 (Surat al-waqi'ah). The seal of Sultan Bayezid II (AH 886-917 AH/1481-1512 CE) appears on fol. 8a. There is an erased bequest (waqf) statement and stamp of Sultan 'Uthman Khan (AH 432-6/1027-31 CE) on fol. 3a.

Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object. Learn more about provenance at the Walters.

Sultan 'Uthman Khan [1]; Sultan Bayezid II [2]; Dikran Kelekian, New York and Paris; purchased by Henry Walters, Baltimore; by bequest to Walters Art Museum, 1931.

[1] Erased bequest (waqf) statement and stamp on fol. 3a
[2] Seal on fol. 8a

Exhibitions

2009 The Saint John's Bible: A Modern Vision through Medieval Methods. The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore.
2007 Speaking the Word of God: Illuminated Korans from the Walters Art Museum. The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore.
1997 The Divine Word and Sacred Sites of Islam. The Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore.
1988 Masterpieces of Ornament. The Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore.
1988 Bindings from the Islamic World. The Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore.
1984-1985 Illuminated Manuscripts: Masterpieces in Miniature. The Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore.
1984 The Taste of Maryland: Art Collecting in Maryland 1800-1934. The Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore.
1981-1982 Symbols of Faith. National Geographic Society, Washington.
1977-1978 Splendor in Books. Grolier Club, New York; The Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore.

Conservation

Date Description Narrative
9/15/1981 Examination examined for condition
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Geographies

India (Place of Origin)

Measurements

Folio H: 15 3/4 x W: 12 3/16 in. (40 x 31 cm)

Credit Line

Acquired by Henry Walters

Location in Museum

Not on view

Accession Number

In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.

W.563

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