Manuscript, Java, 19th century, Naskhī

Copyrights Holder: CallFront
License: CC BY-SA 4.0
Entry ID: SoutheastAsia_AA_ATG_05
Author: Ali Akbar; Annabel Teh Gallop
Date: Before; 1817
Localization Exactitude Degree: Approximate
Place of Production: Indonesia, Java island
Present Location: London, British Library, Add MS 12312
Language: Arabic
Type of text: Quran
Text Content: Qur'an
Script: Naskhī/naskh
Color of the Script: black
Type of Object: manuscript\codex
Writing Surface: paper\type of paper\Javanese treebark paper (dluwang)
Size (of the object): 30 x 21 cm
Layout (Epigraphy & Objects): 17 lines
Technique: written
Instrument: jawi pen
Bibliography: Gallop, A.T., and Arps B.. Golden Letters: Writing Traditions of Indonesia. Lontar, 1991. 100.; Baker, Colin F. Qur’an Manuscripts: Calligraphy, Illumination, Design. British Library, 2007. 90-91.

See the lexicon

Character Spacing: regular spaces between characters
Presence of Elongation: occasional
Ligature: Abusive - rā' and hā' / tāʾ marbūṭa; Abusive - wāw and hā' / tāʾ marbūṭa; Conventional - knotted: joining tāʾ marbūṭa
Shading / Contrast: non-nuanced strokes

Alif Ascenders: alif - non serifed
Lām Ascenders: lām - vertical; lām - inclined to left; lām - non serifed
Kāf Ascenders: Initial, medial and final shaft slightly inclined to left; top arm long diagonal stroke
ṭā' ẓā' ascenders: rounded body; vertical shaft with serif

wāw descenders: wāw - short curvilinear tail
rā' zā' descenders: rā'/zā' - v-shaped
mīm descenders: straight diagonal to left
nūn sīn shīn sādḍād yā’ lām and qāf descenders: Short bowl on baseline; deep bowl extending upward over baseline
jīm ḥāʾ khā' and ‘ain ghayn descenders: backward tail; closing upward

sīn shīn denticles: short denticles
initial and medial bāʾ tāʾthāʾ nūn yāʾ denticles: initial very low, inclined to right

hā' counters: initial / medial double eyed (wajh al-hirr); initial / medial double-eyed top and bottom (mulawwazah); final one-eyed (mardufah) with elongated vertical shaft
fā' qāf wāw counters: soft triangular head; rounded head
medial 'ain ghayn counters: compact inverted triangle / open or closed eye
mīm counters: rounded head pointed chin; circular head closed eye

additional characteristics: Remarkable decorative knotting in surah headings, typical of Javanese Qur’ans