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 as | Aqquyunlu Quran |
| Date | 15th-century CE |
| Place of origin | Iran |
| Language(s) | Arabic |
| Scribe(s) | Unknown |
| Material | Paper |
| Size | 22.6 x 15.5cm; 534 folios |
| Format | Vertical |
| Script | |
Description
editThe 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 turquoise, 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
editThe 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]
References
edit- ^ a b c "A TIMURID OR AQQUYUNLU QUR'AN ON CHINESE PAPER , IRAN, 15TH CENTURY". www.christies.com. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
- ^ "Rare Timurid-era Quran sells for over $8m at UK auction". Middle East Monitor. 2020-06-30. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
- ^ a b Rice, Stephennie Mulder and Yael. "The mystery of the Timurid Qur'an". Retrieved 2020-08-14.
- ^ 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.