AN ILLUMINATED PINK QURAN FOLIO, ANDALUSIA, 13TH CENTURY

This folio belongs to a thirteenth-century Spanish manuscript named the ‘Pink Quran’, after the hue of the paper, consists of five lines of text in bold Maghribi script with diacritical and vocalization marks in gold outlined in brown, blue, and green. Verse numbers appear within gold discs in the form of blue abjad letters outlined in white (the abjad system assigns numerical values to the twenty-eight letters of the Arabic alphabet). The Khamis (fifth verse) marked as teardrop–shaped element in gold and polychrome. The fine, consistent calligraphy, extensive use of gold, and elaborate illumination suggest that the Pink Quran was made for a royal or noble patron in Granada or Valencia. Text: surah Sad (The letter ‘Saad’), verses from 16 and 17, first side, and continue verses 18-19 on other side. 23.8 by 30.5 cm