The Opening Folios of Quranic Juz' 13 and Juz' 14
Origin: Qajar Iran, 19th Century
Medium: Arabic manuscript on paper
Dimensions: Each folio 26 cm x 16.2 cm; framed 43 cm x 32.5 cm

A finely illuminated pair of Quranic manuscript folios from 19th-century Qajar Iran, these pages feature Sura Yusuf (12:53-56) and Sura al-Hijr (15:1-5). Written in elegant black ink naskh script, each folio contains seven lines of text, highlighted by red ink chapter headings set within burnished gold cartouches beneath exquisitely rendered polylobed arches. The borders are richly adorned with scrolling floral motifs, interlinear gold decorations, and meticulously placed gold roundels marking each aya (verse). The use of red diacritic marks enhances readability, while carefully executed catchwords demonstrate the manuscript's high level of craftsmanship. These folios, now individually mounted, framed, and glazed, are exquisite examples of Persian Quranic illumination, reflecting the refined artistry and devotion to calligraphy characteristic of the Qajar period.