Title
Qur'an stand
Year/Period
17th century
Region
Ottoman Turkey or provinces
Object Type
Material
Technique
Dimension
Object size: 63.0 x 95.0 x 38.5 cm
Accession No.
2022-00072
Collection of
At first glance, this appears to be like any standard table but this is precisely what makes it uncommon in the Islamic world. Quran stands are typically X-shaped, foldable lecterns. Termed "rahle-i tedris" (educational stands) in Ottoman Turkish, this type was used in teaching Quranic recitation. Students would be able to sit on one side of the table while the teacher would sit on the opposite side, facing each other. This stand is decorated with mother-of-pearl inlays all around, forming stylised-sun motifs (called "shams") among arabesques of tendrils and stylised tulips and flower heads.
