Lot 9
AN INSCRIBED BRASS QUR'AN BOX
SPAIN, 12TH/13TH CENTURY
Auction: 09 December 2026 from 14:00 GMT
Description
rectangular on tall claw feet with stepped and hinged lid, engraved and decorated with a band of facing quadrupeds around the body reserved on spiralling tendrils, including mythical winged beasts and birds, an elegant band of rope-design above, followed by bands of calligraphic cartouches on the shoulders comprising ‘Glory and success and good fortune and happiness and well-being and generosity and elevation and victory and health and sufficiency and long life for its owner’, the upper flat section decorated with two tall facing birds on a ground of spiralling vegetal tendrils, with original clasp
Dimensions
9.5cm x 15.5cm x 12.6cm
Provenance
Formerly in a Private Collection, Switzerland.
Acquired by the present owner from Koller Auktionen, 20th June 2023, Switzerland, Lot 482.
Footnote
The form of this box is typical of Qur’an boxes used throughout the Islamic world. Due to the immense respect with which the Qur’an must be treated, it would be stored in a purpose-made box such as this when not in use, or wrapped in a cloth and stored on the top shelf of a cupboard. Many Qur’ans were used so frequently that they have not survived to today, but elaborate boxes like this provide a record of their importance. Images of Qur’an boxes were even replicated in jewellery and amulets.