Qur'an Item Number: 3039/1 a-b from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Book of the Qur’an, inscribed in naskh script inside the cover. The first few pages are highly coloured and decorative. Most other pages of script are bordered by a simple band of gold and blue, with most of the script in black and red ink. Chapter headers are painted with brightly coloured decorative bands. The cover has a flowered pattern painted(?) onto the outside; a flower patterned paper adhered to the inside covers. Pages are loosely bound with string, currently only attached in one place to the cover. (Part b is a soft fabric cover that is sewn in the shape of an envelope; in storage.)

History Of Use

A copy of the Qur’an, in Arabic and Farsi script. The Qur’an is the central religious text of Islam.

Narrative

Copy made by Muhammad Hasan al-Khawanari (or Khawansari), son of Muhammad Tahir, in the year Rabi' I 1255. Collected by Mahmoud Mahdavi in Zanjan, Iran. This manuscript is typical of Qur’an production in nineteenth century Iran, with its relatively bold calligraphy in naskh script and its illumination dominated by red, gold, and blue. Between the black lines of the Qur’anic text is a word-by-word Persian translation in red ink.

Item History

What

Name
Qur'an
Identification Number
3039/1 a-b
Type of Item
book
Material
ink, paint, gold metal, paper, leather skin and silk fibre
Part A
height 20.4 cm, width 13.7 cm, depth 3.8 cm
Part B
height 24.0 cm, width 18.0 cm

Who

Culture
Persian
Creator
Muhammad Hasan al-Khawanari (Maker)
Previous Owner
Mina Mahdavi and Jerry O. Cutler
Received from
Mina Mahdavi (Donor) and Jerry O. Cutler (Donor)

Where

Holding Institution
MOA: University of British Columbia
Made in
Iran
Collected in
Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran

When

Creation Date
during 1839
Ownership Date
before December 13, 2013
Acquisition Date
on December 1, 2013

Other

Item Classes
works on paper
Condition
poor
Current Location
Case 76
Accession Number
3039/0001 a-b