Coran safavide

Iran, 16th century Arabic manuscript, 471 leaves, calligraphed in black "naskh" on eleven lines per page. The manuscript opens with a double illuminated frontispiece with two shamsa surrounded by floral arabesques in two shades of gold. This is followed by a second illuminated double frontispiece with the Fatiha, then the sura al-Baqara with an illuminatedwan and the text in reserve on a gold background. At the end of the Qur'an, four pages constituting a "falnamah" are illuminated and calligraphed in "muhaqqaq" and "naskh". The titles of the suras are calligraphed in white riqa' on a cartouche with a gold background and polychrome floral arabesques. The sections (juz, khamisat and 'asharat) are indicated in the margins in gold, blue or red ink. The verses are separated by a gold pastille surrounded by black. Anonymous copy without date. Bound in black morocco with stamped and gilt spandrels and mandorles decorated with floral and vegetal scrolls, later. 23.5 x 13 cm A Safavid highly illuminated Quran, Iran, early 16th century Arabic manuscript, 471ff, 11ll. of black naskh to the page, opening with double shamseh, followed by illuminated double frontispiece with surah al-fatiha, a 3rd double-frontipiece with surah al-baqara. Surah titles in white "ruqa'" on gilded flowered cartouches. At the end of the Qur'an, a highly illuminated falnama. French private collection. Sale by Maître Ader, Tajan, 6 June 1994, lot no. 195, belonging to the collection of Madame Z., reproduced on the cover of the catalogue.