Qur'an, Safavid Shiraz, Iran, 16th century (ink & pigment on paper)

Arabic manuscript on paper, 359ff., two fly-leaves, each folio with 3ll. of large thuluth in alternating blue and gold, interspersed with panels of 5ll. of small black naskh flanked by panels of floral illumination, gold and polychrome marginal medallions, hizb, nisf and juz' written in blue and gold thuluth in the margin, sura headings in white on elegantly illuminated panels, opening bifolio with delicate gold and polychrome illumination framing medallions with 5ll. of gold naskh, following folio with illuminated headpiece, the Qur'an followed by a falnama, in original brown morocco with gilt stamped central panel and borders, the doublures with découpé medallions and spandrels