A journey to search my soul

This is a blog of my personal collections. The purpose of this blog is to educate myself and public in regards to antiquities especially related to religion and calligraphy. I welcome everyone to input their feedback in this blog which they think would be helpful. I do not watermark the photos in this blog so everyone is free to use them as long as they are not used for illegal and unethical reasons. I appreciate if you could notify me if you plan to use any of the photos here. Enjoy browsing!!

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Ancient Manuscript Review 115 : Antique Hijazi / Kufic Quran on Vellum - 9th CE


This is a single folio of Quran written in late Hijazi script on vellum. I purchased this vellum from a reputable auction house in USA. COA that comes with this vellum describing it as Arabic Hijazi Quran Vellum c. 8th-9th Century CE.
There was an auction from Sotheby's selling some follios with quite similar scripts which were described as late Hijazi script. The item as in below link :
Sotheyby's Late Hijazi Quran

However Prof Deroche described this script as B-II i.e " Early Abbasid Scripts". In reference to " Islamic Codicology", this script is datable to 9th Century CE.
Regardless various terminologies used by expert to describe this script, one thing for sure this script is a transition from the earliest Arabic script i.e Hijazi script to a more constructed Kufic script.
From Christie's website, similar leaves were sold on Sale 5331, Lot 136. I believe this leaf came from the same Mushaf. See the link :





Codicology
Title Page : Nil
Content    : Quranic Verses from Surah Israa 92-110
Date         : 9th CE
Copyist    : Anonymous
Patron      : Nil
Origin      : Near East
Place acquired : USA
Illuminations : Nil
Calligraphy :Kufic ( Early Abbasid )
Number of lines :18 lines per page
Inks          : Main text in black
Punctuation: Diacritical marks in black.
Frame       :  Nil
History of Manuscript : Bought from Artemission.
Number of folios : 1 f
Support of writing : light brownish vellum
Gatherings : N/A
Catchwords :Nil
Dimensions : 18.5 cm x 13.0 cm
Binding   : Nil
Estimated Market Price :
Purchased Price : USD
Remarks : 

1 comment:

  1. hello Abu Dervish

    do you mind saying how much you paid for this mushaf ? I want to get an idea how much i should pay for such a leaf if and when i come across similar manuscripts

    also why the big difference between one sold at Sotheby's and the one sold at Christies ?

    thank you in advance

    ReplyDelete