Expecting arrival of antique Qurans

I am a bit excited this week. Expecting arrival of some antique Qurans from Africa & Pakistan. The one from Africa is couriered via FEDEX whereas from Pakistan is already in country awaiting my collection. Insyallah hope to receive them this week so I could post some pictures.

Framed Quranic leaf

These Quran leaves acquired from Istanbul per se. Since I have already mat cutter tool & V groove, putting these leaves in frame will be more presentable.

Ancient Manuscript Review 20 : Antique Levantine Quran 1130 AH

This is an old handwritten Quran from Levant possible Lebanon or Syria. This Quran was written in Naskh script.It was written in 1130 AH ( 1717 CE) AH by Muhammad Hussain

Manuscript Specs

Item : A Handwritten Levantine Quran
Content : A complete Quran
Dim : 12" x 9" x 2.5"
Date : 1130 AH (1717 CE)
Copyist : Muhammad Hussain
Origin : Syria/Lebanon/Jordan ( acquired from Lebanon)
Calligraphy : Naskh
Design : Text written in Naskh script on Arabic paper with vowel & diacritical signs in black and red. 15 lines per page.
Purchased Price :USD

Ancient Manuscript Review 19 : Antique Bihari Quran 1011 AH

This is my second old handwritten Quran from Bihar India. This is a rare Quran as it was written in Bihari script which has now extinct.It was written in 1011 AH by Yusuf

Manuscript Specs

Item : A Handwritten Bihari Quran
Content : A complete Quran
Dim : 8" x 6" x 2.5"
Date : 1011 AH (1602 CE)
Copyist : Yusuf
Origin : Bihar India
Calligraphy : Bihari
Design : Text written in Bihari script on brown paper with vowel & diacritical signs in black and red. 15 lines per page.
Purchased Price :USD

Ancient Manuscript Review 18 : Antique Ottoman Quran in 30 books ( 1155 AH)

This is an unique old Ottoman handwritten Quran. Originally this complete Quran was in 30 separate books. However my dealer as well as my friend in Istanbul decided to bind all of them together. It turned out to be a brilliant idea. Every start page of each juz/segment is illuminated with gold and colorful motives. Copied in 1155 AH ( 1742 CE).
Manuscript Specs

Item : A Handwritten Ottoman Quran ( 30 juza)
Content : A complete Quran
Dim : 9" x 7" x 3"
Date : 1155 AH( 1742 CE)
Copyist : Anonymous
Origin : Turkey Empire
Calligraphy : Naskh
Design : Text written in Naskh script on Arabic paper with vowel & diacritical signs in black and red. 11 lines per page. Originally in 30 separate books. Leather cover was not original.
Purchased Price :USD

Ancient manuscript Review 17 : Antique Indo-Persian Quran 1143 AH

This is an old Indo-Persian handwritten Quran. There is no illumination in any of the pages however the design of this Quran is unique. This Quran was written in 2 size of Naskh Script. This Quran is dated 1143 AH ( 1730 CE)copied by Faqir Abdul Salam. This Quran is complete

Manuscript Specs

Item : A Handwritten Indo Persian Quran
Content : A complete Quran
Dim : 11" x 8" x 2"
Date : 1143 AH( 1730 CE)
Copyist : Faqir Abdul Salam
Origin : Iran/Afghanistan/Pakistan
Calligraphy : 2 scripts of Naskh
Design : Text written in 2 Naskh scripts on brown paper with vowel & diacritical signs in black and red. 13 lines per page. Leather cover was not original.
Purchased Price :USD

Practising Arabic Calligraphy

I spent few hours tonight practising my Arabic calligraphy. I took calligraphy lesson when I was in Istanbul in 2010. It has been a while since I did my last calligraphy work. It's a shame to forget the correct proportion of the letters. However after a few exercises, everything came back. Writing calligraphy in Naskh is not that difficult.There are few other script types which are more difficult and require more graceness in the writing. They are Riqah, Thuluth, Farsi, Dewani & Kufi. Insyallah if I have more time, I will write some stuff about these scripts. These are the most popular scripts utilised in creating artistic calligraphy.
While writing this blog, suddenly an idea gushed into my mind. My not creating a calligraphy art using other scripts for example maghribi script, Afriqi script, Sudanese script or Bihari script? I like the idea of creating calligraphy art with Bihari script especially because this script has extincted few hundred years ago. Interesting? I should give a try...

LOGAN Mat Cutter 700-s

I purchased this cutting tool few weeks ago. The feeling is just AWESOME!! With this tool, I could cut & design my frame mat in a professional way. I remember in the old day I used to cut a mat with a blade and pathetically created a v groove on its surface which panned out with sloopy looking. I dont want to explain further as some people dont really understand what I am talking about. Just look at these pictures and you will get it.

This is the tool. Actually its a combo of mat Cutter 700-s + V Groover 703

This is the initial product

And walla!! The finished products

And what can I do with this mat?? Here's what I am talking about..making my work of art or antique leaf looks gorgeous!!

Ancient Manuscript Review 16 : Antique Persian Quran ( 1099 AH)

This is an old Persian handwritten Quran. The first 2 pages are decorated with gold water. Most pages have gold discs and notes in Farsi on the outer margin. This Quran is dated 1099 AH ( 1688 CE). This Quran is complete however most pages are water stained.

Manuscript Specs

Item : A Handwritten Persian Quran
Content : A complete Quran
Dim : 9.5" x 6" x 2"
Date : 1099 AH( 1688 CE)
Copyist : indecipherable
Origin : Iran/Afghanistan/Pakistan
Calligraphy : Naskh
Design : Text written in Naskh script on crispy paper with vowel & diacritical signs in black and red. 12 lines per page. First 2 pages were decorated with beautiful floral motive gold water. Leather cover was not original.
Purchased Price :USD

Ancient Manuscript Review 15 : Antique Indian Quran ( 200 years old)

This is a small size Indian handwritten Quran. The first 2 pages are decorated with gold water & blue marble. In addition to that, there are 7 stages ( Manzil) of Quran where the pages are decorated with gold floral motives. This is the first time I have seen such Quran and I am so pleased to have acquired it. This Quran is complete and in an excellent condition.
Manuscript Specs

Item : A Handwritten Indian Quran
Content : A complete Quran
Dim : 5.5" x 4" x 1"
Date : undated ( probably 200 years old)
Copyist : anonymous
Origin : India
Calligraphy : Naskh
Design : Text written in Naskh script on crispy paper with vowel & diacritical signs in black and red. 19 lines per page. First 2 pages and 7 bifolium were decorated with beautiful floral motive gold water. Leather cover was not original.
Purchased Price :USD

Calligraphy Tree

This is a very good illustration on the Arabic calligraphy.

Ancient Manuscript Review 14 : Antique Daghestan Quran ( 1247 AH)

This is a rare large Daghestan Quran. The first 2 pages are water painted with various colors. This Quran is copied by Muhammad in 1247 AH.

Manuscript Specs

Item : A Handwritten Daghestan Quran
Content : A complete Quran
Dim : 17" x 9" x 2"
Date : 1247 AH ( 1831 CE))
Copyist : Muhammad
Origin : Daghestan
Calligraphy : Naskh
Design : Text written in Naskh script on laid paper with vowel & diacritical signs in black and red. 14 lines per page.Margin or most pages were decorated with beautiful floral motive water painted. Leather cover was not original.
Purchased Price :USD

Ancient Manuscript Review 13 : Large Ottoman Handwritten Quran (200 years old)

This is a rare Ottoman Quran because of its large size. The first 2 pages are heavily illuminated with gold. This Quran is undated but the age is estimated about 200 years old.

Manuscript Specs

Item : A Handwritten Ottoman Quran
Content : A complete Quran
Dim : 14.5" x 8.5" x 2.5"
Date : undated ( 200 years old)
Copyist : Anonymous
Origin : Turkey
Calligraphy : Naskh
Design : Text written in Naskh script on Arabic paper with vowel & diacritical signs in black and red. 15 lines per page. Leather cover was not original.
Purchased Price :USD

Ancient Manuscript Review 12 : Antique Bihari Quran ( 1065 AH)

This is an old handwritten Quran from Bihar India. This is a rare Quran as it was written in Bihari script which has now extinct.It was written in 1065 AH by Kanikar

Manuscript Specs

Item : A Handwritten Bihari Quran
Content : A complete Quran
Dim : 10" x 6" x 3"
Date : 1065 AH (1654 CE)
Copyist : Kanikar
Origin : Bihar India
Calligraphy : Bihari
Design : Text written in Bihari script on Arabic paper with vowel & diacritical signs in black and red. 15 lines per page. Leather cover was not original.
Purchased Price :USD