269 - AN ILLUMINATED LEAF FROM A QUR'AN MANUSCRIPT, PROBABLY PERSIA OR CENTRAL ASIA, 18TH CENTURY

AN ILLUMINATED LEAF FROM A QUR'AN MANUSCRIPT, PROBABLY PERSIA OR CENTRAL ASIA, 18TH CENTURY Ink, polychrome pigments, and gold on paper. A finely executed manuscript leaf featuring elegant Arabic Qur'anic text in black ink with red vocalization marks and extensive interlinear Persian translation written in red. The page is further embellished with decorative verse markers and a marginal medallion highlighted in gold and blue, characteristic of Islamic manuscript illumination. The calligraphy is executed in a refined Naskh script, while the Persian glosses suggest use within a Persian-speaking Islamic milieu. Such bilingual Qur'anic manuscripts were produced throughout Safavid and later Qajar Persia, as well as neighboring regions of Central Asia and Afghanistan, for devotional reading and religious study. The harmonious arrangement of black and red script, together with the restrained geometric ornamentation, reflects the enduring manuscript traditions of the Islamic world before the widespread adoption of lithographic printing. A handwritten label affixed to the reverse identifies the work as "Arabic Calligraphy. A leaf from the Holy Koran. 18th Century." While the exact dating remains subject to scholarly examination, the manuscript is consistent with an Islamic manuscript tradition of the 18th to early 19th century. Dimensions: 15 2/4 x 11 5/8 in., (39.4 x 29.5 cm.) Condition: Toning and minor age-related wear throughout. Scattered stains, handling marks, and minor abrasions visible. The leaf is framed and has not been examined out of frame. Please make all inquiries before bidding. All statements contained in the catalog, condition reports, invoices, advertisements, or elsewhere concerning the authorship, attribution, origin, date, age, period, culture, source, provenance, authenticity, genuineness, condition, rarity, importance, or value of any lot are statements of opinion only and shall not be construed as representations, warranties, or statements of fact. All lots are sold "as-is", refer to our T&C. Helios Auctions does not offer in-house shipping. We will provide a list of recommended shippers upon request.