Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

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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).

Islamic Seals and Talismans by Ludvik Kalus

Publications online: 237 objects

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Oval bezel amulet from a bracelet, with thuluth inscription and medallion decoration

  • loan
  • Literature notes

    Brown-yellow jasper, in undecorated silver setting (being element of bracelet); bezel; oval. The inscriptions are found on the central oval ground (A) and on the border (B) divided into two long compartments on the long sides (B1 and 2) and two small compartments on the short sides (B3 and 4); between every two compartments, there is one circular polylobed medallion with script inside (B5-8). Three lines, separated by elongation of the two ligatures (A1-3) and one line (B1-8); cursive script; engraved.

    A - (1) ‘In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate. Praise belongs to God, the Lord of all Being, the Merciful, the Compassionate
    بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم الحمد لله رب العالمين الرحمن الرحيم
    (2), the Master of the Day of Doom. Thee only we serve; to Thee alone we pray for succour. Guide us in the straight path,
    مالك يوم الدين اياك نعبد واياك نستعين اهدنا الصراط المستقيم
    (3) the path of those whom Thou hast blessed, not of those against whom Thou art wrathful, nor of those who are astray’ (Qur 1)
    صراط الذين انعمت عليهم غير المغضوب عليهم ولا الضالين

    B - (1) 'There is no god but Thou. Glory be to Thee! I have done evil'. (Qur. XXI, 87) لا اله الا انت سبحانك اني كنت من الظالمين
    (2) There is no god but God, the King, the Just One, the Truth, the Manifest One (or the Ever Bestowing One). [لا اله الا الله الملك العدل الحق المبين [المنان؟
    (3) Committing himself to God المتوكل على الله
    (4) Oh Sufficient in difficulties! يا كافي المهمات
    (5) Oh God! يا الله
    (6) Oh Guardian! يا حافظ
    (7) Oh Ever Forgiving One! يا غفار
    (8) Oh Ever Opener! يا فتاح

    There are groups of dots spread over the script ground. Two lines follow the shape of the gem.
  • Details

    Associated place
    Asia India (possible place of creation)
    Asia Iran (possible place of creation)
    Asia India (possible place of purchase)
    Date
    probably 18th - 19th century (1701 - 1900)
    Material and technique
    jasper, incised; silver setting
    Dimensions
    with setting 3 x 4 x 1.05 cm (height x width x depth)
    jasper 2.6 x 3.7 cm (height x width)
    0.02 kg (weight)
    Material index
    inorganicstonesilicaquartz jasper,
    inorganicstonegemstonequartz jasper,
    Technique index
    formed cast
    Object type index
    No. of items
    1
    Credit line
    Lent by the Bodleian Library, University of Oxford.
    Accession no.
    LI1008.30
  • Further reading

    Kalus, Ludvik, Catalogue of Islamic Seals and Talismans (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1986), no. 1.30 on pp. 61-62, pl. II.1.30

Location

    • 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

  • Islamic Seals and Talismans by Ludvik Kalus

    Catalogue of Islamic Seals and Talismans

    Brown-yellow jasper, in undecorated silver setting (being element of bracelet); bezel; oval. The inscriptions are found on the central oval ground (A) and on the border (B) divided into two long compartments on the long sides (B1 and 2) and two small compartments on the short sides (B3 and 4); between every two compartments, there is one circular polylobed medallion with script inside (B5-8). Three lines, separated by elongation of the two ligatures (A1-3) and one line (B1-8); cursive script; engraved.

    A - (1) ‘In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate. Praise belongs to God, the Lord of all Being, the Merciful, the Compassionate
    بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم الحمد لله رب العالمين الرحمن الرحيم
    (2), the Master of the Day of Doom. Thee only we serve; to Thee alone we pray for succour. Guide us in the straight path,
    مالك يوم الدين اياك نعبد واياك نستعين اهدنا الصراط المستقيم
    (3) the path of those whom Thou hast blessed, not of those against whom Thou art wrathful, nor of those who are astray’ (Qur 1)
    صراط الذين انعمت عليهم غير المغضوب عليهم ولا الضالين

    B - (1) 'There is no god but Thou. Glory be to Thee! I have done evil'. (Qur. XXI, 87) لا اله الا انت سبحانك اني كنت من الظالمين
    (2) There is no god but God, the King, the Just One, the Truth, the Manifest One (or the Ever Bestowing One). [لا اله الا الله الملك العدل الحق المبين [المنان؟
    (3) Committing himself to God المتوكل على الله
    (4) Oh Sufficient in difficulties! يا كافي المهمات
    (5) Oh God! يا الله
    (6) Oh Guardian! يا حافظ
    (7) Oh Ever Forgiving One! يا غفار
    (8) Oh Ever Opener! يا فتاح

    There are groups of dots spread over the script ground. Two lines follow the shape of the gem.
Notice

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