Monumental Qur’an folio

This is a rare and important folio from the Mamluk period (c.1250-1517 CE). The text is from Surah al-Kahf (The Cave) of the Holy Qur'an, 18:26 - 42. It is written in very fine 'muhaqqaq' script in black ink on cream paper with 11 lines of text per page. The patronage of large Qur’an manuscripts was popular among Mamluk sultans and viziers during the 14th and early 15th centuries. At least 10 Mamluk Qur’ans of this very large scale were produced in the Mamluk Empire during the second half of the 14th century, but the practice largely seems to have died out by the 15th century.