Sacred Script Exhibit: Qur’anic Manuscripts from the 8th to 16th centuries in the Minassian Collection
Case #6 | The technology of manuscript production
Although the primary focus of these works of art was the highly elevated level of aesthetic beauty, we also find in this collection subtle clues hinting at the process by which the book was created as a utilitarian object. Bound manuscripts are mechanical objects that have evolved in response to the need for an efficient and secure manner in which large quantities of information may endure passage through both time and space. The three folios from two different manuscripts which are displayed here illustrate how the material dictated the structure of the book; the two smaller folios are made of parchment, while the larger signature consists of paper. The folds at the edges of the parchment folios are artifacts of the binding process. Note also the piece of thread leftover from the binding on the folio on the left. As seen here, the introduction of paper allowed greater flexibility in terms of dimension, as prepared parchment was limited by cost and the size of the animal skins used. However, there was a trade off, as parchment is also generally more durable, and the oldest parchment folios in this collection are for the most part structurally in better condition than the later paper folios.
Qur’an, Surat al-An‘am [6] …91-93… ink on parchment, 10th – 11th c.
Qur’an, Surat al-Insan [76] …1-9… ink on parchment, 10th – 11th c.
Qur’an, Surat al-Hud [11] …50-56…; …78-82… bifolio, ink on paper with illumination
Minassian Collection, A98-3 Box 1: Folders 78 ; Box 2: 81 and 149