102 - Beautiful illuminated Qur'an

Beautiful illuminated Qur'an North Africa, late 18th–early 19th century Arabic manuscript on laid paper, copied in Maghribi script in black ink, 15 lines per page; 268 folios. The text is vocalized, with colored dots and verse markers. The titles of the surahs are written in white ruqqa’ script within cartouches illuminated in various colors; the margins feature exquisite floral illuminations in gilded palmette motifs, each one unique. The volume opens with a double-page spread featuring a gold, blue, turquoise, and green carpet pattern decorated with flowers and arabesques, with a title cartouche on a midnight blue background and a gold-braided border around the text. Beautiful brown leather binding with a red border, embossed and gilded with foliage motifs. The back cover, in black leather, is adorned with a network of circles and cross-hatching. The endpapers are made of marbled paper. Condition: interior in very good condition; slight wear on the binding. 22 × 16 cm Note: A notation on the case indicates the date 1150 H. (1737–1738); this does not appear on the manuscript, which lacks a colophon. Provenance: Private Italian collection. This lot is accompanied by an export certificate issued by the Italian Ministry of Culture.