The original seventeen folios with gilded decoration come, apparently, from a unique Qur'an. No other instances have been published using gold panels between lines of text in a kufic Qur'an. The only appearance of this motif in some normal kufic Qur'ans is within the headings.
The calligraphy has a strength enhanced by the unusually high carbon content of the ink. This made more dramatic by the absence of pointing or vowel notation. A few dots could be interpreted as having originally formed some of this notation, but since the gold does not circumvent them, it seems more porbable that they are confusingly placed spot stains. It appears that the decorative composition was first outlined in sepia ink and the gold applied not in leaf but in suspension. This is the common practice in early Qur'ans. The motifs within each panel are floral and appear to include both acanthus motifs and half-palmettes.

A chemical analysis of this lot is available on request.