The Blue Qur'an is the greatest masterpiece of Islamic calligraphy. It is made of stretched Kufic gold writing in strong linewidth on a vellum parchment dyed in indigo blue.
Its origin is not documented but its characteristics are unique. This is certainly the book identified in an inventory at the Great Mosque of Qairawan in 693AH (1294AD).
It originally contained about 600 pages of various sizes up to 31 x 41 cm. Many of them were scattered during the later Ottoman period and the last century. 67 remaining folios were transferred from Qairawan to Tunis in 1967.
The Blue Qur'an was probably executed in Andalusia or North Africa 1100 to 1000 years ago for a very powerful Islamic monarch who has not been identified. Its sumptuous indigo dye is considered as a successful attempt to surpass the luxury of Byzantine purple.
Single leaves of the Blue Koran appear fairly often at auction. One of them was sold by Sotheby's for £ 280K including premium on October 4, 2011. A better result announced in 2012 is no more confirmed on the website of the auction house.
A leaf 28 x 38 cm containing 15 lines of the surah al nisa' was sold for £ 240K including premium by Christie's on April 26, 2012. It is estimated £ 300K for sale by Sotheby's in London on April 22, lot 62.
Its origin is not documented but its characteristics are unique. This is certainly the book identified in an inventory at the Great Mosque of Qairawan in 693AH (1294AD).
It originally contained about 600 pages of various sizes up to 31 x 41 cm. Many of them were scattered during the later Ottoman period and the last century. 67 remaining folios were transferred from Qairawan to Tunis in 1967.
The Blue Qur'an was probably executed in Andalusia or North Africa 1100 to 1000 years ago for a very powerful Islamic monarch who has not been identified. Its sumptuous indigo dye is considered as a successful attempt to surpass the luxury of Byzantine purple.
Single leaves of the Blue Koran appear fairly often at auction. One of them was sold by Sotheby's for £ 280K including premium on October 4, 2011. A better result announced in 2012 is no more confirmed on the website of the auction house.
A leaf 28 x 38 cm containing 15 lines of the surah al nisa' was sold for £ 240K including premium by Christie's on April 26, 2012. It is estimated £ 300K for sale by Sotheby's in London on April 22, lot 62.
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