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

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

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 with naskhi inscription

  • loan
  • Literature notes

    Pale organge chalcedony; bezel, bevelled towards the front; oval. Four lines separated by straight lines formed by elongation of a ligature or return of a final loop. Cursive script; engraved.

    (1) 'In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate. Behold, We sent it down on the Night of Power; بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم انا انزلناه في ليلة القدر
    (2) And what shall teach thee what is the Night of Power? The Night of Power is better than a thousand وما ادريك ما ليلة القدر خير من الف
    (3) months; in it the angels and the Spirit descend, by the leave of their Lord, شهر تنزل الملئكة والروح فيها باذن ربهم
    (4) upon every command. Peace it is, till the rising of dawn.' (Qur. XCVII) من كل امر سلام هى حتي مطلع الفجر

    On the ground, there are some isolated dots or groups of dots. One line follows 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
    chalcedony, bevelled and incised
    Dimensions
    1.2 x 1.8 x 0.2 cm (height x width x depth)
    Material index
    Technique index
    cut
    Object type index
    No. of items
    1
    Credit line
    Lent by the Bodleian Library, University of Oxford.
    Accession no.
    LI1008.89
  • Further reading

    Kalus, Ludvik, Catalogue of Islamic Seals and Talismans (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1986), no. 1.59 on p. 79, pl. II.1.59

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

    Pale organge chalcedony; bezel, bevelled towards the front; oval. Four lines separated by straight lines formed by elongation of a ligature or return of a final loop. Cursive script; engraved.

    (1) 'In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate. Behold, We sent it down on the Night of Power; بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم انا انزلناه في ليلة القدر
    (2) And what shall teach thee what is the Night of Power? The Night of Power is better than a thousand وما ادريك ما ليلة القدر خير من الف
    (3) months; in it the angels and the Spirit descend, by the leave of their Lord, شهر تنزل الملئكة والروح فيها باذن ربهم
    (4) upon every command. Peace it is, till the rising of dawn.' (Qur. XCVII) من كل امر سلام هى حتي مطلع الفجر

    On the ground, there are some isolated dots or groups of dots. One line follows the shape of the gem.
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