Section from a Qur’an

Manuscript; Qur’an, second quarter: Sura al-A’raf (the Heights) – Sura al-Kahf (the Cave), sura 7-18; Arabic in black muhaqqaq script, illuminated pages with titles in white thuluth script; vocalized in black; 178 folios with two double-page illuminations, rosette verse markers and inscribed marginal medallions; inalienable donation; inscriptions on folio 175 verso; standard page: 1column, 7 lines of text.
Binding: The manuscript is bound in brown leather over paper pasteboards with blind tooling, an envelope flap, and doublures of block pressed leather.

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Historical period(s)
Mamluk period, 14th century
Medium
Ink, color and gold on paper
Dimensions
H x W: 31.1 x 23.5 cm (12 1/4 x 9 1/4 in)
Geography
Egypt or Syria
Credit Line
Purchase — Smithsonian Unrestricted Trust Funds, Smithsonian Collections Acquisition Program, and Dr. Arthur M. Sackler
Collection
Arthur M. Sackler Collection
Accession Number
S1986.25
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Manuscript
Type

Manuscript

Keywords
Egypt, Henri Vever collection, illumination, Islam, Mamluk period (1250 - 1517), muhaqqaq script, Qur'an, sura 18, sura 7, Syria, thuluth script
Provenance

1934
Unidentified Sale, reportedly conducted by Étienne Ader (1903-1993) or Maurice Ader (1900-1973), 1934, no. 17 [1]

?- 1942
Henri Vever (1854-1942), method of acquisition unknown [2]

1942-1947
Jeanne Louise Monthiers (1861-1947), bequest of Henri Vever [3]

1947-1986
Francois Mautin (1907-2003), bequest of Jeanne Louise Monthiers and Henri Vever [4]

From 1986
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery purchased from Francois Mautin [5]

Notes:

[1] According to an inventory prepared in 1986, reportedly based on an appraisal prepared by M. A. Densmore, this binding was featured in "Ader sale, 1934, no. 17." The brothers Étienne and Maurice Ader were each appointed as "commissaire priseur" or chief auctioneers, primarily overseeing auctions at Galerie Charpentier, Paris.

[2] An accomplished French jeweler and collector, Henri Vever (1854-1942) amassed a large and impressive collection of works of art during his lifetime. His holdings in Japanese prints and Islamic arts of the books, especially from Iran and India, were among the most important assembled in the early twentieth century.

[3] Upon Henri Vever's death on September 25, 1942, his wife, Jeanne Louise Monthiers inherited the work. See exhibits F and G of Agreement of Purchase and Sale of the Henri Vever Collection, January 9, 1986, copy in object file.

[4] Upon the death of Jeanne Louise Monthiers, as stipulated in the will of Henri Vever, the family's assets were divided evenly between his two grandchildren. His only grandson, Francois Mautin inherited the collection known as "The Henri Vever Collection of Oriental Art and Manuscripts Including Persian and Indian Art and Manuscripts." This work is part of that collection. See exhibits F and G as cited in note 5.

[5] The Arthur M. Sackler Gallery purchased the entirety of the collection from Francois Mautin on January 9, 1986. See purchase agreement, copy in object file.

Research completed on May 5, 2022.

Previous Owner(s) and Custodian(s)

Henri Vever 1854-1942
Jeanne Louise Monthiers 1861-1947
Francois Mautin 1907-2003

Description

Manuscript; Qur'an, second quarter: Sura al-A'raf (the Heights) - Sura al-Kahf (the Cave), sura 7-18; Arabic in black muhaqqaq script, illuminated pages with titles in white thuluth script; vocalized in black; 178 folios with two double-page illuminations, rosette verse markers and inscribed marginal medallions; inalienable donation; inscriptions on folio 175 verso; standard page: 1column, 7 lines of text.
Binding: The manuscript is bound in brown leather over paper pasteboards with blind tooling, an envelope flap, and doublures of block pressed leather.

Inscription(s)

Fol. 175 verso: This holy rub' [quarter] was given for God's sake in waqf [endowment] by Muhammad Sa'id to the madrasa [school] al- Zulyunia in the qanawat in the siqaq al-Ta'dil.

Exterior of binding, envelope flap: square sticker with “17” printed in black ink

Exterior fron cover: square, white sticker with blue boarder and “26” written in ink

Label

This manuscript contains the second quater of the Qur'an, from Sura VII ("The Heights") to Sura XVII ("The Cave").

Published References
  • Glenn D. Lowry, Milo Cleveland Beach, Elisabeth West FitzHugh, Susan Nemanzee, Janet Snyder. An Annotated and Illustrated Checklist of the Vever Collection. Washington and Seattle. cat. 4, p. 16.
  • Cailah Jackson. Islamic Manuscripts of Late Medieval Rum, 1270s-1370s: Production, Patronage and the Arts of the Book. Edinburgh Studies in Islamic Art Edinburgh. p. 48, figs. 1.26 and 1.27.
Collection Area(s)
Arts of the Islamic World
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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