The Cleveland Museum of Art
Collection Online as of December 19, 2025
Qur'an Manuscript Folio (recto); left side of bifolio
800s
Overall: 26.7 x 73 cm (10 1/2 x 28 3/4 in.); Text area: 22.8 x 30 cm (9 x 11 13/16 in.)
The Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund 1993.39.2.a
Location: Not on view
Did You Know?
The text is from the Chapter of the Moon (54:13–27).Description
Calligraphy, the art of beautiful writing, was elevated above all other art forms in the Islamic world because Allah, God, revealed the divine word of Islam to the Prophet Muhammad in the Arabic language. Arabic script evolved gradually until the 800s when Muslim scribes produced copies of the Qur'an that were calligraphic masterpieces. This Qur'an, written entirely in gold, exemplifies the angular form of writing known as kufic at its majestic best. Distinctive markings—short ink strokes, colored dots—identify the vocalization of the text. The folio is framed by an interlacing border and displays a leafy motif in the outer margin.- ?-1993(Oliver Hoare Limited, London, UK, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art)1993-The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
- Main Gallery Rotation (gallery 116). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (November 14, 2012-December 9, 2013).
- {{cite web|title=Qur'an Manuscript Folio (recto); left side of bifolio|url=false|author=|year=800s|access-date=19 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}
Source URL:
https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1993.39.2.a