Beau coran d'époque Zand

A highly illuminated Zand Quran, Persia, 2nd half of the 18th century Arabic manuscript on fine paper, 235 leaves, in black ink, 17 lines per page, calligraphed in fine naskh, each line calligraphed in fine naskh in a cloudy cartouche in reserve on a gold background. Sura titles are in gold, verse separations marked with rosettes, and divisions of the Qur'an with gold and blue floral marginal illumination. The Qur'an opens with seven illuminated pages: an invocation, a double-page index, an illuminated and polychrome double frontispiece, the continuation of al-baqara with floral scroll margins. It ends without a colophon, with a prayer. Bound in lacquered papier-mâché with floral decoration, the outer boards with black backgrounds and the inner boards with red backgrounds. 12.5 x 8 cm Provenance : French collection by inheritance. A highly illuminated Zand Quran, Persia, 2nd half of the 18th century Arabic manuscript on thin paper, 235 ff., 17 lines to the page, written in neat naskh script in black ink, verses separated by gold dots, surah headings in gold. The Qur'an opens with seven illuminated pages: an invocation, a double-page index, an illuminated and polychrome double-heading, and the following of al-baqara with floral scrollwork margins. It ends without a colophon, with a prayer. Floral lacquer binding covered with gold leafy sprays.