Folio from a Qur'an Manuscript

Art Historical Context

This exquisite folio from a'an manuscript, dating to the th–early 10th century, represents one of the earliest surviving examples of Islamic sacred texts. Crafted by an unknown artist using ink, watercolor, and gold on, it measures a compact 3 5/16 by 5 1/16 inches—ideal for portable devotional use during an era when the Qur'an was central to Muslim life and learning. In the Islamic world, calligraphy emerged as the preeminent art form, as the Qur'an's Arabic verses were considered divine and inimitable. Manuscripts like this were laboriously produced as acts of piety, with gold accents lendi...