Sunday, March 13, 2011

Antique Miniature Qur'an circa 1900 AD




 
Miniature Quran and metal locket with inset magnifying glass...

**weighs only 4.318g, is 25.708mm long, 19.517mm wide and 9.620mm thick**

Produced by the Glasgow publisher, David Bryce and Sons circa 1900, this Quran is about 111 years old now. Copies were frequently issued to Muslim soldiers fighting with the Allied troops during World War 1, often regarded as talismans. The metal locket allowed it to be easily worn around the neck of the soldier.

Bryce took an active interest in the latest technological advances in photolithography and electroplates to allow larger volumes to be reduced to the smallest imaginable size. Although only 2.57cm in height, the text is perfectly legible with the aid of the magnifying glass.

This antique miniature Quran bears a remarkable resemblance to the one belonging to a Chinese Muslim from Shianxi, China which is insured for RM1 million. Refer newspaper article
https://www.thestar.com.my/news/community/2006/06/16/tiny-quran-on-show-at-carnival

                   

Antique Handwritten Illuminated Qur'an #3 - Indonesia - Early 19th Century AD













- a beautiful, rare religious artefact
- an antique Qur'an from Indonesia, probably from Acheh (Qur'ans from Acheh normally have decoration/ilumination on the middle pages)
- estimated to be around 200 years old (early 19th century)
- completely handwritten with multi-coloured including gold illumination
- there are 6 illuminated pages - 2 in the beginning, 2 in the middle and 2 at the end
- complete 30 ajza/chapters with no missing pages
- written on thick fragrant papers
- contains 308 leaves and 616 pages
- writings on 608 pages, with frames on every page
- size is large at 31cm x 19cm
- original cover was damaged beyond repair and has been replaced with a new one

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Antique Handwritten Illuminated OTTOMAN QUR'AN 1796 AD / 1211 Hijriah

























- a rare religious artefact from middle east
- an antique Qur'an scribed in Ottoman era
- fully handwritten with illumination and pure gold paint
- Qur'an is dated, no signature found
- completed in 1796 AD or 1211 Hijriah
- complete 30 ajza/chapters with no missing pages
- written on fragrant papers
- contains 302 leaves and 604 pages
- writings on 600 pages, all pages have gold frames
- relatively small 22cm x 13.5cm
- comes with original cover