A FINELY ILLUMINATED QURAN, CENTRAL ASIA, 18TH CENTURY

A complete Quran, Arabic manuscript on paper, 658 leaves plus two fly-leaves, each folio with 9 lines of elegant black naskh on a gilt and green colored ground. Persian interlinear translation in red nastaliq, gold and polychrome roundel verse markers outlined in black, large gilt and polychrome floral marginal juz' and hizb medallions, text within gold and blue rules, surah headings in white thuluth script on cartouches with gold ground, occasional marginal commentary in black nastaliq in white clouds in cartouches issuing floral medallions above and below, out margin ruled in gilt floral motifs, opening and final bifolia fully illuminated in gold and polychrome, end of the text with prayers and dedication and signed 'written by Abdul-allah'. In gilt deep red binding with flap, decorated with a central cartouche surrounded by spandrels containing scrolling floral vine, within strap work and floral borders. Text panel: 9.5 by 17 cm. Folio: 17 by 25 cm.