Sea of Ink, Forest of Pens

A spectacular study of calligraphy, the most esteemed form of visual and textual expression in the Islamic world, through a storied collection of Quran manuscripts Spanning more than a millennium, from the seventh through the nineteenth century, Sea of Ink, Forest of Pens: The Art of the Quran in the Hossein Afshar Collection sheds new light on the production of deluxe Quran manuscripts across Islamic lands through sixty-four exemplary works. The vast majority of these pieces are published for the first time in this richly illustrated book, which opens with a historical essay tracing important developments and stylistic trends represented in the collection. Renowned Islamic art scholar David Roxburgh examines the evolution and variations of scripts, beginning with the earliest recordings and reflecting on subsequent transformations through key single folios, bifolios, and bound Quran manuscripts. He also delves into the art of Quranic illumination, and the publication includes a richly illustrated glossary to guide the reader. Distributed for The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston