An illuminated Qur'an copied by Zayn al-'Abidin, son of Mulla Malik Muhammad al-Isfahani, for his brother 'Ali, son of Malik Muhammad, in floral lacquer binding
Qajar Persia, probably Isfahan, dated 2nd Shawwal 1226/20th October 1811
Arabic manuscript on cream-coloured polished thin paper, 218 leaves, 17 lines to the page written in clear naskhi script in black ink with diacritics and vowel points in black and red, illuminated discs between verses, inner margins ruled in gold, catchwords, illuminated devices in outer borders, contemporary commentaries written in small shikasteh script in black ink in outer borders, sura headings written in naskhi script in red within gold cartouches flanked by floral motifs in various colours, one illuminated frontispiece in colours and gold, lacquer binding with covers decorated with carnations, tulips and wild red roses on a gold-sprinkled red ground, doublures with central medallions of wild roses, apple blossoms, and bluebells, black ground richly decorated with intertwining floral and vegetal motifs in gold, creased, browned, edges of binding chipped, rebacked, with emerald green velvet bag, now faded and worn
196 x 131 mm.
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