187 - Quran, Sub-Saharan Africa, early 20th century

Quran, Sub-Saharan Africa, early 20th century Manuscript on paper consisting of 522 folios and unbound fragments, copied in Arabic using the Sudani script, with 13 or 14 lines per page in brown ink; vowel marks and surah titles in red ink; diacritical marks in polychrome, and verses separated by colored discs. Several panels with geometric decoration illuminated in red, yellow, and brown inks (for example, at the end of Sura VI, al-An’am). Marginal decorations in the form of circular medallions, with or without appendages, adorned with geometric colored patterns, and geometric cartouches marking the divisions of the Qur’anic text. Running heads at the bottom of the pages announcing the following folio. The folios are mixed and out of order, arranged between two leather covers and accompanied by fragments of a case with a flap and a leather strap, embossed with a geometric design. Folio dimensions: approximately 23 x 17 cm; binding cover dimensions: 23 x 17.5 cm Manuscript sold as is, uncollated and likely incomplete, containing a few extraneous leaves, fragmentary folios, stains, foxing, tears, holes, some restorations by stitching, and a very damaged and fragmentary binding. * Expert: Camille Celier.