Binding of a Qur'an

The Qur'an manuscript to which this binding is attached was copied in 1264 AH (1847–8) AD by 'Abd al-Ghafur ibn Habiballah al-Husayni for a patron called Yahya Khan, perhaps Yahya Khan Mu'tamid al-Mulk. The outer covers are decorated with a bold flower-and-bird design on a gold ground, within a narrow border of a repeating diaper design in gold on red. The doublures are dark-red, and each is painted in gold with a large iris plant.