Folio from a Qur'an: Sura 38, verses 87-88; sura 39, verse 1

Object Details

• Description

  Detached folio from a dispersed copy of the Qur'an; recto: Sura Sad ( Sad) 38: 87-88, illuminated chapter heading in white with a palmette, Sura al-Zumar (the Troops) 39: part of verse 1; verso: sura 39: 1-2; Arabic in black kufic script; gold orbs stacked as illuminated pyramid-shaped verse markers, an illuminated leaf-shaped medallion verse marker; vocalized in red; one column; 6 lines of text; one of a group of 13 folios.

• Label

  The earliest Qur'ans were copied in a rectangular script, generally known as kufic. Employed throughout the early Islamic world, this script is notable for its short verticals, elongated horizontals, and red vowel marks. Another characteristic of this calligraphic style is the pronounced spaces between words and letters that appear visually as significant as the words themselves. The illuminated chapter heading, terminating in an elegant palmette in the margin, indicates a break in the text.

• Provenance

  To 1930

  Elizabeth T. Riefstahl, to 1930 [1]

  From 1930

  Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from Elizabeth T. Riefstahl in 1930 [2]

  Notes:

  [1] Object file, undated folder sheet note.

  [2] See note 1. Also see Freer Gallery of Art Purchase List file, Collections Management Office.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Engaging the Senses (October 14, 2017 - ongoing)

  Arts of the Islamic World (May 3, 1998 to January 3, 2016)

  Islamic Art (May 9, 1993 to June 3, 1997)

  Art of the Near East (August 21, 1977 to December 14, 1979)

  Art of the Arab World (May 8, 1975 to August 20, 1977)

  Near Eastern Art (January 1, 1963 to August 18, 1967)

  Islamic Art, Gallery 6A (July 22, 1958 to June 5, 1964)

  Untitled Exhibition, Persian and Near Eastern Art (May 5, 1933 to September 24, 1947)

  Untitled Exhibition, Persian Art (March 14, 1931 to May 5, 1933)

  Untitled Exhibition, South Asian and Persian Art (March 24, 1930 to March 14, 1931)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Elizabeth Titzel Riefstahl (1889-1986)

• Origin

  North Africa or Near East

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Manuscript

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  900s, 800s, 700s, 1100s, 1200s, 1000s

• Name

  Riefstahl, Elizabeth Titzel

• Place

  North Africa, Near East

• Topic

  Kufic script, West Asia, Art, Arts of the Islamic World, Qur'an

• Culture

  Muslims, Abbasids

• Object Type

  Manuscripts