North African Qur’anic manuscript leaf in Maghribi script, circa 14-15th century

North African Qur’anic manuscript leaf in Maghribi script, circa 14-15th century
North African, c. 14-15th century
Print: Height 39cm, width 31cm
Frame: Height 73cm, width 62cm, depth 4cm
 
This Qur’anic manuscript leaf originates from North Africa and is written in the characteristic Maghribi script, recognisable through its rounded contours and extended horizontal profiles. Workshops across the western Islamic world developed this calligraphic style, creating manuscripts where geometry and devotional clarity worked in harmony. The present leaf originates from that tradition, reflecting a script that was developed and refined over many generations of scribes.
 
The parchment carries black ink text with red diacritics, punctuated by gold and polychrome rosettes that divide the verses. Along the right margin, larger teardrop motifs enriched with blue, white, and gold create a sense of both structure and ornamentation. These features are typical for Qur’anic manuscripts produced in North Africa in the late medieval period, when symmetrical and elaborately illuminated pages became the hallmark of regional craftsmanship.
 
Set within a giltwood frame and layered mount, the leaf’s colours gain a striking clarity, making the piece even more impressive.
 
Its craftsmanship and historical resonance give it a natural place within any serious collection of Islamic manuscript art.