OTTOMAN TURKEY, DATED AH 1000/1591-92 AD

During the late sixteenth and seventeenth century and onward, octagonal Qur'ans, also known as sancak, gained popularity. People often used them as protective charms to carry with them, especially during conflicts. These Qur'ans were written in a tiny script called ghubari, which means "dust" in English. Typically, sancak Qur'ans were stored in small, customized boxes that could be attached to battle standards. Most of the remaining sancak Qur'ans are either of Ottoman or Persian origin, although a few examples from India have also survived. A closely related octagonal Qur’an attributed to Herat sold in these Rooms, 27 October 2022, lot 30.