Double parchment leaf from a Koran written in Maghribi
North Africa or Spain; 13th century
Each leaf: 18 × 16.3 cm
Inventory number 32/1974
This double leaf, like “The Pink Koran,” was written in the tortuous and colorful Maghribi script, which dominated in North Africa and Muslim Spain from the 11th century. The spread holds the last verse of sura 10 and the chapter heading and first four verses of sura 11. The sura heading was designed in classical Kufi and written in gold. It was further highlighted with a leaf ornament in the margin, but not framed, as was to become common later on.
Parchment was typically used for Korans in the Maghreb and Spain long after paper had become the dominant material farther east.
Parchment was typically used for Korans in the Maghreb and Spain long after paper had become the dominant material farther east.
Published in
Published in
Kjeld von Folsach: Islamic art. The David Collection, Copenhagen 1990, cat.no. 4;
Kjeld von Folsach, Torben Lundbæk and Peder Mortensen (eds.): Sultan, Shah and Great Mughal: the history and culture of the Islamic world, The National Museum, Copenhagen 1996, cat.no. 96;
Kjeld von Folsach, Torben Lundbæk and Peder Mortensen (eds.): Sultan, Shah and Great Mughal: the history and culture of the Islamic world, The National Museum, Copenhagen 1996, cat.no. 96;
