A gold-on-gold Qur'an leaf, 1708

Source: http://www.christies.com/LotFinder/search/LOTDETAIL.ASP?sid=&intObjectID=4483380&SE=CMWCAT03+836425+%2D1781064421+&QR=M+1+0+Aqc0000900+811447++Aqc0000900+&entry=india&SU=1&SN=7038&RQ=True&AN=174
(downloaded Apr. 2005

"QUR'AN, SAFAVID IRAN, DATED AH 1120/1708-9 AD
Manuscript on paper, 334ff. with 12ll. of black naskh, small gold verse markers, within blue, gold, green and red margins with gold interlinear rules, Persian interlinear translation in red for first few folios, illuminated double page opening with surat al-fatiha and part of surat al-baqara in clouds over gold ground, enclosed by panels of polychrome floral decoration over gold, inscriptions in red thuluth over gold ground, with cusped panels of foliage and split-palmettes in orange, white and black over blue ground, large illuminated headpieces with cusped orange and black arches enclosing polychrome floral designs over gold ground with half-stars of blue containing polychrome floral arabesque with paired white split-palmettes, with boldly drawn gold floral borders, original lacquer binding with gold floral sprays enclosed by panels of gold thuluth inscriptions, slight splitting in the frontispiece, old repairs, a few losses to lacquer. Folio 14¼ x 8¾in. (36 x 22cm.)

Lot Notes:  The lacquered covers contain Qur'an LVI, surat al-waqi'a , 77-80; VIII surat al-a'raf , 204; XVII surat al-asra' 8.

A note at the beginning is a dedication of the Qur'an by a mother with the name Kulthum (as it appears on the oval seal impression) to her daughter with the name Shah Sultan Khanum known as Khanum Bozorg and is dated 1st Ramadan, 1282 (18th January, 1866).

A seal impression of a certain Hamid with the date 1231/1815-16 is also visible."