A Monumental Indian Qur'an, mounted on one sheet of linen, in Arabic, single vast illuminated manuscript on paper [Northern India, possibly Delhi, dated 1288 AH (1870/71 AD)] 6 sheets of paper pasted together and sanded at joints to give the impression of one single large sheet, full text of the Qur'an in one single column, with 218 lines of black rounded naskh, title in heading above text block and closing colophon appearing at the lower edge, arabesque shapes and floral circular patterns lightly painted in gold over the text to decorate it, these providing a depth and texture to the image, framed in a striking blue border, also adorned with gold foliage and floral decorations, linen-backed, reverse blank, total approximately 1170 x 2060mm. The sheer opulence and quality of this piece, containing the entire text of the Qur'an, firmly indicates that it was produced by an accomplished Mughal workshop. The colophon stipulates that this Qur'an was written and designed by the worshippers and supporters of the Bakht(s) at the time and in the court of the Shah, and thus this piece would appear to be directly connected to the Bakht lineage, either Mirza Dara Bakht or Mirza Jawan Bakht, sons of the last Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar. It was produced only 13 years after the rebellion that ended Shah Zafar's reign, during the period when some of his former followers offered occasional support to his heirs, and as such must be one of the very last pieces of Islamic art produced for the royal Mughal family in the history of their 330-year-long empire. The only other comparable example to have appeared on the open market was another Qur'an, apparently on one single sheet measuring 1520 by 1680 mm. (thus smaller than the present example), signed by Ghulam Khaydar Sirhindi in Malerkotla and dated 1296 AD (Bonhams, 19 April 2016, lot 33, realising £11,250).
A Monumental Indian Qur'an, mounted on one sheet of linen, in Arabic, single vast illuminated manuscript on paper [Northern India, possibly Delhi, dated 1288 AH (1870/71 AD)] 6 sheets of paper pasted together and sanded at joints to give the impression of one single large sheet, full text of the Qur'an in one single column, with 218 lines of black rounded naskh, title in heading above text block and closing colophon appearing at the lower edge, arabesque shapes and floral circular patterns lightly painted in gold over the text to decorate it, these providing a depth and texture to the image, framed in a striking blue border, also adorned with gold foliage and floral decorations, linen-backed, reverse blank, total approximately 1170 x 2060mm. The sheer opulence and quality of this piece, containing the entire text of the Qur'an, firmly indicates that it was produced by an accomplished Mughal workshop. The colophon stipulates that this Qur'an was written and designed by the worshippers and supporters of the Bakht(s) at the time and in the court of the Shah, and thus this piece would appear to be directly connected to the Bakht lineage, either Mirza Dara Bakht or Mirza Jawan Bakht, sons of the last Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar. It was produced only 13 years after the rebellion that ended Shah Zafar's reign, during the period when some of his former followers offered occasional support to his heirs, and as such must be one of the very last pieces of Islamic art produced for the royal Mughal family in the history of their 330-year-long empire. The only other comparable example to have appeared on the open market was another Qur'an, apparently on one single sheet measuring 1520 by 1680 mm. (thus smaller than the present example), signed by Ghulam Khaydar Sirhindi in Malerkotla and dated 1296 AD (Bonhams, 19 April 2016, lot 33, realising £11,250).
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
