Folio from a Qur'an Manuscript
A.H. 531/ 1137 CE
Medium
Ink, gold, and opaque watercolor on paper
Dimensions
H. 7 11/16 in. (19.5 cm) W. 5 1/8 in. (13 cm)
Classification
Codices
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Louis E. and Theresa S. Seley Purchase Fund for Islamic Art and Rogers Fund, 1996
Accession Number
1996.294.3
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite folio from a Qur'an manuscript, crafted by the calligrapher Muhammad al-Zanjani 1137 CE (A.H. 531), exemplifies the pinnacle of Islamic devotion during the medieval period. Measuring a compact 7 11/16 by 5 1/8 inches, this single page once formed part of a codex—a bound book format that revolutionized manuscript production in the Islamic world, making sacred texts more accessible than earlier scrolls. Produced amid the cultural flourishing of the Seljuk era, it reflects the era's emphasis on spiritual precision and beauty. Rendered in ink, gold, and opaque watercolor on paper, ...