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 thuluth inscription and linear decoration

  • loan
  • Literature notes

    Cornelian; bezel, bevelled towards the front; oval; superior angle slightly cut. The inscription is found on the central ground (A), within an oval line, and on the border (B), surrounded on its outer edge by another oval line. One script line (A) and one script line (B); cursive script; engraved. The reading starts on the bottom on the left side.

    B - 'The unbelievers wellnigh strike thee down with their glances, when they hear the Reminder, and they say, "Surely he is a man possessed!" And it is
    وان يكاد الذين كفروا ليزلقونك بابصارهم لما سمعوا الذكر ويقولون انه لمجنون وما هو

    A - but a Reminder unto all those who know.' (Qur. LXVIII, 51-52) الا ذكر للعالمين

    There are dots, isolated or in groups, and some small linear motifs, spread over the ground.
  • 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
    cornelian, cut, bevelled, and incised
    Dimensions
    1.9 x 3 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.
    LI1008.55
  • Further reading

    Kalus, Ludvik, Catalogue of Islamic Seals and Talismans (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1986), no. 1.57 on p. 78, pl. II.1.57

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

    Cornelian; bezel, bevelled towards the front; oval; superior angle slightly cut. The inscription is found on the central ground (A), within an oval line, and on the border (B), surrounded on its outer edge by another oval line. One script line (A) and one script line (B); cursive script; engraved. The reading starts on the bottom on the left side.

    B - 'The unbelievers wellnigh strike thee down with their glances, when they hear the Reminder, and they say, "Surely he is a man possessed!" And it is
    وان يكاد الذين كفروا ليزلقونك بابصارهم لما سمعوا الذكر ويقولون انه لمجنون وما هو

    A - but a Reminder unto all those who know.' (Qur. LXVIII, 51-52) الا ذكر للعالمين

    There are dots, isolated or in groups, and some small linear motifs, spread over the ground.
Notice

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