Timurid Quran manuscript

The Timurid Quran manuscript, also known as the Aqquyunlu Quran manuscript, is a 15th-century Timurid Quranic manuscript written on paper produced in the Ming dynasty.[1] On 25 June 2020, it was sold at auction by Christie's for £7,016,250, surpassing its estimated value more than twelve-fold[2] and rendering it the most expensive Quranic manuscript ever sold at the time.[3]

Timurid Quran manuscript
Folia from the manuscript consisting of purple paper, with a depiction of a tree on the right
Also known asAqquyunlu Quran
Date15th-century CE
Place of originIran
Language(s)Arabic
Scribe(s)Unknown
MaterialPaper
Size22.6 x 15.5cm; 534 folios
FormatVertical
Script

Description

The manuscript consists of 534 folios, sized 22.6 x 15.5cm, largely comprised from dyed, gold-flecked paper manufactured in Ming China. Infused with lead white, the paper is described as having a soft and silk-like texture. It is variously coloured pink, purple, cream, orange, blue and turqouise, with some pages containing depictions of landscapes, flora and birds.[1] The Arabic is written using naskh script, with thuluth script used for titling surahs and the thirty juz'.[1]

Controversy

The sale of the manuscript was condemned by several academics, who argued it undermined its historical, cultural and spiritual value.[4] Questions were also raised over its provenance, with critics stating Christie's' concealment of its details before the 1980s could obscure possible instances of looting and trafficking.[3]

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References
  1. "A TIMURID OR AQQUYUNLU QUR'AN ON CHINESE PAPER , IRAN, 15TH CENTURY". www.christies.com. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  2. "Rare Timurid-era Quran sells for over $8m at UK auction". Middle East Monitor. 2020-06-30. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  3. Rice, Stephennie Mulder and Yael. "The mystery of the Timurid Qur'an". Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  4. Sharp, Sarah Rose (2020-08-05). "The Sale of a Rare, Gold-painted Qur'an at Christie's Raises Questions of Provenance". Hyperallergic. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
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