Catalogue of Islamic Seals and Talismans
A catalogue of seals and talismans housed at the Ashmolean from the 8th to 19th century Islamic world, by Ludvik Kalus (published Oxford, 1986).
Publications online: 237 objects
Heart-shaped bezel amulet inscribed with the Throne verse
- loan
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Literature notes
Yellow-brownish jasper; bezel unbevelled; oval, pointed on the inferior side. The gem is pierced twice in the centre of the edge, from the top to the bottom. The inscription is in ten decorative compartments attached to a tree, in the central oval ground (A1-10), within three concentric oval lines, and in the border (B), surrounded on its outer side by two lines. One script ensemble in each medallion in the central ground (A1-10), one line in the border (B). Cursive script engraved.
A-(1) Oh Merciful! Oh Compassionate! يا رحمن يا رحيم
(2) In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compationate. بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
(3) Aid! مدد
(4) Oh Living One! Oh Ever Self-Existent One! يا حى يا قيوم
(5) Oh Exalter of ranks! يا رفيع الدرجات
(6) God is most great! الله اكبر
(7) Oh Judge of necessities! يا قاضي الحاجات
(8) Glory is from God! العزة لله
(9) Oh Sufficient in difficulties! يا كافي المهمات
(10) Oh Thou who answers prayers! يا مجيب الدعوات
B- 'God, ther is no god but He, the Living, the Everlasting. Slumber seizes Him not, neither sleep; to Him belongs all that is in the heavens and the earth. Who is there that shall intercede with Him save by His leave? He knows what lies before them and what is after them, and they comprehend not anything of His knowledge save such as He wills. His Throne comprises the heavens and earth; the preserving of them oppresses Him not; He is All-high, the All-glorious.'
[Qur. II. 256/255] Committing himself to God.
الله لا اله الا هو الحى القيوم لا تاخذه سنة ولا نوم له ما في السموات وما في الارض
من ذا الذى يشفع عنده الا باذنه يعلم ما بين ايديهم وما خلفهم ولا يحيطون بشئ من علمه الا بما شاء وسع كرسيه السموات والارض ولا يؤده حفظهما وهو العلى العظيم
المتوكل على الله
There are groups of dots all over the script ground. -
Details
- Associated place
- Date
- probably 18th - 19th century (1701 - 1900)
- Material and technique
- jasper, incised and pierced
- Dimensions
- 3.5 x 5.15 x 0.5 cm (height x width x depth)
- Material index
- Technique index
- Object type index
- No. of items
- 1
- Credit line
- Lent by the Bodleian Library, University of Oxford.
- Accession no.
- LI1008.46
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Further reading
Kalus, Ludvik, Catalogue of Islamic Seals and Talismans (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1986), no. 1.41 on pp. 69-70, pl. II.1.41
Location
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- currently in research collection
Objects are sometimes moved to a different location. Our object location data is usually updated on a monthly basis. Contact the Jameel Study Centre if you are planning to visit the museum to see a particular object on display, or would like to arrange an appointment to see an object in our reserve collections.
Publications online
-
Catalogue of Islamic Seals and Talismans
Yellow-brownish jasper; bezel unbevelled; oval, pointed on the inferior side. The gem is pierced twice in the centre of the edge, from the top to the bottom. The inscription is in ten decorative compartments attached to a tree, in the central oval ground (A1-10), within three concentric oval lines, and in the border (B), surrounded on its outer side by two lines. One script ensemble in each medallion in the central ground (A1-10), one line in the border (B). Cursive script engraved.
A-(1) Oh Merciful! Oh Compassionate! يا رحمن يا رحيم
(2) In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compationate. بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
(3) Aid! مدد
(4) Oh Living One! Oh Ever Self-Existent One! يا حى يا قيوم
(5) Oh Exalter of ranks! يا رفيع الدرجات
(6) God is most great! الله اكبر
(7) Oh Judge of necessities! يا قاضي الحاجات
(8) Glory is from God! العزة لله
(9) Oh Sufficient in difficulties! يا كافي المهمات
(10) Oh Thou who answers prayers! يا مجيب الدعوات
B- 'God, ther is no god but He, the Living, the Everlasting. Slumber seizes Him not, neither sleep; to Him belongs all that is in the heavens and the earth. Who is there that shall intercede with Him save by His leave? He knows what lies before them and what is after them, and they comprehend not anything of His knowledge save such as He wills. His Throne comprises the heavens and earth; the preserving of them oppresses Him not; He is All-high, the All-glorious.'
[Qur. II. 256/255] Committing himself to God.
الله لا اله الا هو الحى القيوم لا تاخذه سنة ولا نوم له ما في السموات وما في الارض
من ذا الذى يشفع عنده الا باذنه يعلم ما بين ايديهم وما خلفهم ولا يحيطون بشئ من علمه الا بما شاء وسع كرسيه السموات والارض ولا يؤده حفظهما وهو العلى العظيم
المتوكل على الله
There are groups of dots all over the script ground.
Notice
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