Illuminated Quran Manuscripts

Timeline

1. c. 1250–1350Tabriz · IranDuring the Ilkhanate period an illuminated Quran style emerged characterized by blue grounds, gold-leaf chapter headings, and fine borders, fusing Persian decorative and Arabic calligraphic traditions, and serving as the direct precursor of later Timurid manuscripts.
2. 1401–1410Herat · HeratIn the early 15th century, workshops in Herat and Samarkand produced illuminated Qurans for courts and mosques, using high-quality paper, multicolored borders, and intricate geometric patterns; some manuscripts came with exquisite covers and bindings.
3. c. 1400–1500Cairo · EgyptMamluk Egypt simultaneously produced illuminated Qurans of a distinctive style, which circulated alongside Timurid manuscripts through trade routes and gift exchange, together forming the material network of Islamic book arts in the 15th century.