Yesterday I suggested that multiple knotted ta marbuta in Arabic MSS from Java eg. Qur’an, @britishlibrary Add 12312, f.95r bl.uk/manuscripts/Vi… may be linked with knotted canto markers or pepadan in Javanese-script manuscripts, eg MSS Jav 24, f.168r bl.uk/manuscripts/Vi…. 
Elaborate Javanese pepadan or canto markers may also include a ‘squiggle of tendril’, as seen above the letters ma-nga-ja-pa, Fig.53, from Tim Behrend’s article ‘Textual Gateways:the Javanese manuscript tradition’ in the wonderful book Illuminations (Lontar, 1996, p.189 @LontarF
Confirming the influence of Javanese-script traditions, very similar tapered squiggles can also be found in surah headings in Qur’ans from Java:
Fig.54. Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia, 2004.2.2, S. al-Lahab and S. al-Ikhlas.
Fig.54. Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia, 2004.2.2, S. al-Lahab and S. al-Ikhlas.
Semua gambar ini diterbitkan dalam artikel saya 'Beautifying Jawi: between calligraphy and palaeography' (2005), yang membahas berbagi cara memperindahkan aksara Arab dalam naskah dunia Melayu academia.edu/7477256/Beauti…
