Lot 56: A NORTH AFRICAN POLYCHROME PAINTED WOODEN QURANIC TABLET, 19TH CENTURY

A traditional North African Quranic school board, known as a Luh or Lawh, of the type used for memorisation in the Maghreb region. The tablet is constructed from a single slab of light-coloured wood, hand-painted with ink and polychrome pigments in shades of ochre, red, yellow, and black. The front is densely decorated with various styles of Arabic calligraphy. The upper and lower registers feature broad, stylised Kufic-type script, while central panels contain smaller blocks of Maghribi script. The lower centre features a prominent Hamsa or Hand of Fatima motif, which is itself composed entirely of calligraphic script. The decorative scheme includes architectural elements such as two Mihrab arches containing stylised hanging lamps (thirya), horizontal bands of red and yellow stripes, and geometric borders with repeating triangle and dot motifs. The upper panels feature a fine red lattice pattern background. The reverse face bears multiple lines of cursive Maghribi script.

43.5 by 19cm