BINDING STYLES OF QUR’ÓN MANUSCRIPTS PRODUCED IN THE SUBCONTINENT FROM 14TH TILL 18TH CENTURY C.E.

Abstract

This study within the framework of codicology, deals with almost 400 samples of the Qur’Én’s binding. The samples are to be put in the chronological frame between 14th till 18th century C.E. The significance of this study is to highlight the hybrid techniques and design of binding as well as to project the Qur’Én manuscript collection of Ganjbkhsh Library (GBL) Islamabad. These manuscripts belong to different regions of the Subcontinent, Iran and Afghanistan. The basic objective of binding is to protect written testament of religious manuscripts and official documents. These bindings are often distinctive in colour combination, techniques, materials and designs. The famous centres of book binding in 15th century were Tabriz, Baghdad, Shiraz and Heart that influenced the Indian artisan’s work. It is noticed that, highly illuminated manuscript of the Qur’Én has well designed/decorated cover (binding).