The visual resonances of a Harari Qur’ān: An 18th century Ethiopian manuscript and its Indian Ocean connections

Although not widely recognized as Harari, a Qur’ān manuscript in the Khalili Collection in London (QUR706) provides an opportunity to consider long-distance artistic circulations and encounters in the early modern Indian Ocean. Dated to 1162/1749, the Khalili Qur’ān can be linked with Mamluk and ear...

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Main Author: Sana Mirza
Format: Article
Language:deu
Published: Institut des Mondes Africains 2017-12-01
Series:Afriques
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.openedition.org/afriques/2052
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author Sana Mirza
author_facet Sana Mirza
author_sort Sana Mirza
collection DOAJ
description Although not widely recognized as Harari, a Qur’ān manuscript in the Khalili Collection in London (QUR706) provides an opportunity to consider long-distance artistic circulations and encounters in the early modern Indian Ocean. Dated to 1162/1749, the Khalili Qur’ān can be linked with Mamluk and earlier Indian Qur’ān manuscripts through its illuminations and its use of biḥārī script, a type rarely seen outside of India. Later inscriptions in the Qur’ān record its eventual arrival in Zanzibar. The trans-regional visual resonances of the manuscript, and its later circulation, highlight the position not only of Harar as a regional artistic center within Ethiopia, but also that of the Horn of Africa within a broader Indian Ocean ecumene. Focusing on the Khalili Qur’ān, this essay will explore Harar’s nuanced engagement and selective participation in networks of artistic circulation and exchanges and their role in the formation of a Harari visual idiom within the burgeoning globalization of 18th-century Ethiopia.
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spelling doaj-art-9add77fcc06a445fbc7c6648c50ed3d72025-01-09T13:02:59ZdeuInstitut des Mondes AfricainsAfriques2108-67962017-12-01810.4000/afriques.2052The visual resonances of a Harari Qur’ān: An 18th century Ethiopian manuscript and its Indian Ocean connectionsSana MirzaAlthough not widely recognized as Harari, a Qur’ān manuscript in the Khalili Collection in London (QUR706) provides an opportunity to consider long-distance artistic circulations and encounters in the early modern Indian Ocean. Dated to 1162/1749, the Khalili Qur’ān can be linked with Mamluk and earlier Indian Qur’ān manuscripts through its illuminations and its use of biḥārī script, a type rarely seen outside of India. Later inscriptions in the Qur’ān record its eventual arrival in Zanzibar. The trans-regional visual resonances of the manuscript, and its later circulation, highlight the position not only of Harar as a regional artistic center within Ethiopia, but also that of the Horn of Africa within a broader Indian Ocean ecumene. Focusing on the Khalili Qur’ān, this essay will explore Harar’s nuanced engagement and selective participation in networks of artistic circulation and exchanges and their role in the formation of a Harari visual idiom within the burgeoning globalization of 18th-century Ethiopia.https://journals.openedition.org/afriques/2052EthiopiaIndian OceanHararQur’ānmanuscriptcalligraphy
spellingShingle Sana Mirza
The visual resonances of a Harari Qur’ān: An 18th century Ethiopian manuscript and its Indian Ocean connections
Afriques
Ethiopia
Indian Ocean
Harar
Qur’ān
manuscript
calligraphy
title The visual resonances of a Harari Qur’ān: An 18th century Ethiopian manuscript and its Indian Ocean connections
title_full The visual resonances of a Harari Qur’ān: An 18th century Ethiopian manuscript and its Indian Ocean connections
title_fullStr The visual resonances of a Harari Qur’ān: An 18th century Ethiopian manuscript and its Indian Ocean connections
title_full_unstemmed The visual resonances of a Harari Qur’ān: An 18th century Ethiopian manuscript and its Indian Ocean connections
title_short The visual resonances of a Harari Qur’ān: An 18th century Ethiopian manuscript and its Indian Ocean connections
title_sort visual resonances of a harari qur an an 18th century ethiopian manuscript and its indian ocean connections
topic Ethiopia
Indian Ocean
Harar
Qur’ān
manuscript
calligraphy
url https://journals.openedition.org/afriques/2052
work_keys_str_mv AT sanamirza thevisualresonancesofaharariquranan18thcenturyethiopianmanuscriptanditsindianoceanconnections
AT sanamirza visualresonancesofaharariquranan18thcenturyethiopianmanuscriptanditsindianoceanconnections