15th Qur'anic Juz, Ottoman Turkey, probably Anatolia,... Lot 135

15th Qur'anic Juz, Ottoman Turkey, probably Anatolia, early 15th century Manuscript on paper with five lines of text per page in Arabic in muhaqqaq calligraphy with alternating blue and gold inks. The manuscript is introduced by a double-page illuminated frontispiece in unwâns with finely inscribed squared cartouches in red ink under a dense illuminated decoration of spiral vegetal scrolls in medallions and lambrequins in the margin. The text includes Sura XVII al-Isra' and Sura XVIII al-Khaf up to verse 74. Separation of verses by gold illuminated rosettes and gilt marginal discs. Bound in red morocco with stamped decoration of a multi-lobed medallion enhanced with gold. 34,7 x 26,5 cm Last words added later in black ink, later marginal annotations, stains, wetness (important on the binding), restorations. The large size of the manuscript, its simple and airy layout, and the fine Muhaqqaq calligraphy of the text still evoke the late Mamluk Qur'ans. The gold illumination with fine spiral scrolls and palmettes seems to announce the Golden Horn and rumi styles that abounded in early sixteenth-century Ottoman art. Two similar Qur'an sections were sold at Sotheby's London on October 19, 2016, lot 108 and April 26, 2017, lot 12. An Ottoman Qur'an Juz' (XV), Turkey, probably Anatolia, early 15th century Private collection from Paris from 1975 to 2000 - first part (lots 120 to 173).