Ancient Manuscript Review 131 : Antique Quran Giant Leaf in Muhaqqaq Script ( circa 17th CE)

This is a leaf I bought from Istanbul bazaar. I purchased it due to its big size (42cm x 35cm) and the style of calligraphy i.e The Muhaqqaq. We dont see many Quran written in this script and size except prior 18th century. This leaf I estimated written from 17th to 18th century CE.

 Codicology

Title Page :

Content    : Surah  from Al Quran

Date         :17-18th century

Copyist    : Anonymous

Patron      : n/a

Origin      :Turkey

Place acquired : Istanbul

Illuminations : Nil

Calligraphy : Main text in Muhaqqaq script.

Number of lines :11 lines per page

Inks          : Black

Punctuation: red disc.

Frame       : red line frame

History of Manuscript : Acquired from a friend who has a manuscript bazaar in Istanbul. He has a few folios from the same Quran. But I only bought a folio from him.

Number of folios : 1 f

Support of writing : Yellowish western paper

Gatherings : N/A

Catchwords :Nil

Dimensions : 42.0 cm x  35.0 cm

Binding   : Nil

Estimated Market Price :

Purchased Price : USD

Remarks : Compare the calligraphy with my other Muhaqqaq Quran as below link..

Mamluk Leaf 

Syrian Muhaqqaq Quran

Ancient Manuscript Review 130 : Antique Etiopian Coptic Bible Manuscript ( 18th Century CE)

This is my other Coptic Bible acquisition. I really dont know how to read coptic. But the seller who is coptic herself told me that this is a gospel written in coptic.
This manuscript is written in Ge'ez on vellum.

Codicology

Title Page : Nil

Content    : Christian Gospel

Date         : 18th Century CE

Copyist    : Anonymous

Patron      : Nil

Origin      : Etiopia

Place acquired : Etiopia

Illuminations : Nil

Calligraphy :Ge'ez

Number of lines :23 lines per page

Inks          : Main text in black. Some key words in red.

Punctuation: Diacritical marks in black

Frame       :  Nil

History of Manuscript : Purchased from a contact in Etiopia

Number of folios : 136 ff

Support of writing : light yellowish vellum

Gatherings : N/A

Catchwords :Nil

Dimensions : 19.0 cm x 14.5 cm x 10.5 cm

Binding    light brown wooden covers

Estimated Market Price :

Purchased Price : USD

Remarks :

Ancient Manuscript Review 129 :Antique Islamic Papyrus Manuscript ( 10th Century CE)

This is another part of manuscript fragment I purchased from an auction in 2013. It is written in Arabic on paper but the backing is from papyrus. It was written in Arabic. I couldn't decipher the meaning but I knew for sure it was written in Arabic. This manuscript could be a sort of prayer or amulet because it has a symmetrical shape which if folded resembles an umbrella. As I mentioned in my entry no 128: Papyrus  I think this is Islamic manuscript because there is a lot of words of Allah, Hussein and Ali which are Shiite in nature. This could be written during the time of Fatimid Shiite Empire ( 909 -1171 CE ) in Egypt.

I need to do more research on this manuscript and will update this entry later. If you have any info on this manuscript, feel free to share with us.

Manuscript Specs

Item :  Arabic Papyrus Manuscript
Content :  Shiite Islamic prayer
Dim : Diameter of  9"
Date : 10th century CE
Copyist : anonymous
Origin :  Egypt
Calligraphy :TBA
Design : Written in Arabic scripts in black on paper with backing in papyrus
Purchased Price :US

Ancient Artifact Review 19 : Antique Qajar Mosaic Inlay Quran Box ( 18th Century CE)

This is a beautiful wooden Mosaic Inlay box originating from Qajar. Interior full covered with mirrors whereas top lid and front wall fitted with clear glass.The rest of body is beautifully decorated with mosaic. This box is about 100-200 years old based on there design and the condition.

Dim : 14.5in x 9.25in x 6.5 in
Date : 18th Century CE ( Qajar Persia)
Material : Wooden box inlaid with micro mosaic
Origin : Iran

Ancient Manuscript Review 128 : Antique Islamic Papyrus Manuscript Prayer ( 10th Century CE )

I purchased this papyrus manuscript from an auction in 2013.It is written in Arabic on paper but the backing is from papyrus.
 I couldn't decipher the meaning but I knew for sure it was written in Arabic. This manuscript could be a sort of prayer or amulet because it has a symmetrical shape which if folded resembles an umbrella. However I think this is Islamic manuscript because there is a lot of words of Allah, Hussein and Ali which are Shiite in nature. This could be written during the time of Fatimid Shiite Empire ( 909 -1171 CE ) in Egypt.
Comparing this Arabic script from a dated papyrus document from manuscriptevidence.org of 357AH ( 967 CE), they have strikingly similar script. Hence it is safe to estimate this manuscript from 10th Century CE.
I need to do more research on this manuscript and will update this entry later. If you have any info on this manuscript, feel free to share with us.

Manuscript Specs

Item :  Arabic Papyrus Manuscript
Content :  Shiite Islamic prayer
Dim : Diameter of  9"
Date : 10th century CE
Copyist : anonymous
Origin :  Egypt
Calligraphy :TBA
Design : Written in Arabic scripts in black on paper with backing in papyrus
Purchased Price :US