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This item has been added to the Database within the Explore Islamic Art Collections project. Information is available in: English, Arabic.

Name of Object:

Bifolium from the 'Nurse's Qur'an' (Mushaf al-Hadina)

Location:

New York, United States of America

Holding Museum:

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

About The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Date of Object:

Hegira c. 410 / AD 1019–20

Museum Inventory Number:

2007.191

Material(s) / Technique(s):

Ink, opaque watercolour, and gold on parchment

Dimensions:

H: 44.5cm, W: 60cm

Period / Dynasty:

Zirid

Provenance:

Probably Qayrawan, Tunisia

Description:

The Mushaf al-hadina was commissioned for donation to the Great Mosque of Qayrawan by the nursemaid of the Zirid ruler Abu-Manad Badis ibn al-Mansur (r. A.D. 996–1016). Written in a form of kufic script that was unique to North Africa, it is remarkable not only for its calligraphy but also for two inscriptions providing documentary evidence it was commissioned by a female servant of a royal medieval household. Female patrons associated with the Zirid court, whether princesses or in royal service, were not uncommon. They commissioned Qur’ans to demonstrate their wealth and piety. The manuscript was copied on animal-derived parchment, which remained in use in this region long after a shift to paper took place in Egypt, Iraq, Syria and Iran.

How Object was obtained:

Purchase, James and Diane Burke Gift, in honor of Dr. Marilyn Jenkins-Madina, 2007

Vendor: Sam Fogg, London

Former owner: Fatima al-Hadina, Tunisia (until about 1019–20)

Former owner: Great Mosque of Qairawan, Tunisia (from about 1019–20)

Former owner [dealer]: [Charif Fine Arts, Dubai, sold to Fogg]

Former owner [dealer]: [Sam Fogg, London, by 2006–7; sold to MMA]

Selected bibliography:

Campbell, Thomas P. (ed), The Metropolitan Museum of Art Guide, New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2012: 126, ill. (colour).
Fraser, Marcus and Kwiatkowski, Will, Ink and Gold: Masterpieces of Islamic Calligraphy London, London: Sam Fogg 2006: 58–61, no. 15, ill.
Ekhtiar, Maryam, How to Read Islamic Calligraphy, New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2018: 40–41, 146, no. 4, ill. 41, 146.
Ekhtiar, Maryam, Canby, Sheila R., Haidar, Navina and Soucek, Priscilla P. (ed), Masterpieces from the Department of Islamic Art in The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2011: 60–61, no. 31, ill. 60 (colour).
Roxburgh, David J., Writing the Word of God. Calligraphy and the Qur'an, Houston: Museum of Fine Arts, 2007.

Additional Copyright Information:

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Purchase, James and Diane Burke Gift, in honor of Dr. Marilyn Jenkins-Madina, 2007

Citation of this web page:

 "Bifolium from the 'Nurse's Qur'an' (Mushaf al-Hadina)" in Explore Islamic Art Collections. Museum With No Frontiers, 2024. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;EPM;us;Mus23;49;en

MWNF Working Number: US3 49

RELATED CONTENT

 Artistic Introduction

Islamic Dynasties / Period

Zirids


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Calligraphy Manuscripts

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