Islamic Qur'an box comprised of tiled bone with inset carnelian and turquoise stones, Moroccan. Profusely carved with floral and foliate designs. Script along one side reads "Wala ghaliba illa Allah (God, no domain but for God)." With lampblack or soot in the recessed areas of the work. The hinged lid can be locked with a pin connected with a chain to one of the rings connected to the handles.
Keywords: Koran, Muslim, Middle East

Provenance: From the Estate of C. Curtis "Curt" Dunnavan, Long Lake, Minnesota.

C. Curtis "Curt" Dunnavan (1926-2022) was a passionate world traveler and avid collector. It was through his travels that he was inspired to begin a lifelong relationship with the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia), becoming a major sponsor of the institute and facilitating the growth of their Asian art department, which is now one of the best in the country. His generous donations to Mia allowed them to establish a fund for the Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer, one of the few endowed positions of this type in the museum field. He additionally served as a trustee of the institute, advocating for its operational growth. In its turn, the museum established a gallery named in his honor in recognition for his endowment fund and numerous contributions to their collection. The selections here showcase his talent and breadth of collecting, ranging from ancient statues to 19th-century woodblock prints. His appreciation for art persisted throughout his life and we are honored to offer items from his collection in this auction.
Height: 8 1/2 in x width: 6 3/4 in x depth: 1 1/2 in. Considerable losses to the lampblack or soot in the recessed areas of the work. The box is structurally sound and stable. Along the left handle there is a small crack. There are a few thin cracks throughout the bone. Some slight separation to the panels. Along the underside there is a network of blue accretions, likely a putty of some sort. Some discoloration and tarnishing to the metal components. The lid opens smoothly on the hinges. To the interior there is some discoloration and dust collected in the recessed areas.