Lot 12: AN ILLUMINATED CHINESE QURAN VOLUM, 18TH CENTURY

This illuminated manuscript is a section (juz) of a Chinese Quran, dating to the 18th century. The volume is executed on hand-burnished paper using black and red ink, gold leaf, and polychrome pigments. The calligraphy is written in a large, bold Arabic script in the Sini style, which is characteristic of Islamic manuscripts produced in China. Black ink is used for the primary text, while red ink is utilized for vocalization marks (tashkil). The opening bifolium features elaborate headpieces and footpieces with gold-ground medallions containing geometric star patterns and interlaced floral motifs. The side margins of these pages are decorated with stylized floral shamsa finials in gold, green, and blue pigments. The main text pages are enclosed within simple red ruled borders. The manuscript is housed in a dark brown leather binding featuring blind-tooled and stamped decoration, including a central mandorla with pendants and a border composed of geometric and scrolling patterns.

27 x 19.5cm