18th century
Africa
Object qualities
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Objectillustration: Section from a non-illustrated manuscript
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Type of arts & crafts
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MediumInk, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper; leather binding, stamped and gilded
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SizeH. 7-31/32 in. (20.3cm) W. 5-31/32 in. (15.2 cm)
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Geography detailsAttributed to
Africa -
Country today
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Date18th century
Source of information
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Type of sourceDatabase “Metropolitan Museum of Art”
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Fund that the source refers toMetropolitan Museum of Art
Description
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Two lavishly illuminated double pages open and close this juz’ (section) from a Qur’an, which was bound in finely worked leather. The intricate geometric and vegetal decoration of this illumination is conservative and the calligraphy employed here represents a type of script that was almost unchanged in North Africa since the twelfth century, but the rectangular format, the use of paper, and the varied color palette of the illumination are characteristic of the manuscript’s late date.