Qur'anic Verses

Qur'anic verses 14-27 of the 27th chapter of the Qur'an entitled Surat al-Naml (The Ants), written in Kufi script in the B.II style, on parchment during the 9th cent. Based on its script, lines per page, and written surface dimensions, this fragment appears to belong to the same Qur'an from which another fragment in the collections of the Library of Congress has been extracted (AL-16). Both fragments (AL-11 and AL-16) may have been removed during the 1920's from a Qur'an, which was later for sale at Sotheby's on 13 April 2000 (Lot 1). Dimensions of Written Surface: 21 (w) x 14 (h) cm ar The text is executed in Kufi script in black ink at sixteen lines per page. The Kufi script is a version of style B.II found in Qur'ans produced on parchment during the 9th century (Déroche 1992, 54-55, cat. no. 9). Diacritics appear as red dots and only one verse marker appears on the folio's verso. Located on the third line and separating verses 20 and 21, this tenth-verse marker is in the shape of a gold flower outlined in red and black ink. This calligraphic fragment includes verses 14-27 of the 27th chapter of the Qur'an entitled Surat al-Naml (The Ants). It is a Meccan surah, and these particular verses describe King Solomon's powers as well as his encounter with the Queen of Sheba. Script: Kufi AL-11