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 with nasta‘liq inscription of the Throne verse

  • loan
  • Literature notes

    Yellow chalcedony; bezel (but the front face is slightly rounded), bevelled towards the front; oval. Five lines in cursive script (nasta`līq); engraved.

    (1) 'God, there is no god but He, the Living, the Everlasting. Slumber seizes Him not,
    الله لا اله الا هو الحى القيوم لا تاخذه
    (2) neither sleep; to Him belongs all that is in the heavens and the earth.
    سنة ولا نوم له ما في السموات وما في الارض
    (3) Who is there that shall intercede with Him save by His leave? He knows what lies before them and what is after them,
    من ذا [ا]لذى يشفع عنده الا باذنه يعلم ما بين ايديهم وما خلفهم
    (4) and they comprehend not anything of His knowledge save such as He wills. His Throne comprises the heavens
    ولا يحيطون بشئ من علمه الا بما شاء وسع كرسيه السموات
    (5) and earth, the preserving of them oppresses Him not; He is the All-high, the All-glorious.' (Qur. II, 256/255)
    والارض ولا يؤده حفظهما وهو العلى العظيم

    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
    2.4 x 3.6 x 0.25 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.
    LI1008.40
  • Further reading

    Kalus, Ludvik, Catalogue of Islamic Seals and Talismans (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1986), no. 1.38 on p. 67, pl. II.1.38

Location

    • currently in research collection

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Publications online

  • Islamic Seals and Talismans by Ludvik Kalus

    Catalogue of Islamic Seals and Talismans

    Yellow chalcedony; bezel (but the front face is slightly rounded), bevelled towards the front; oval. Five lines in cursive script (nasta`līq); engraved.

    (1) 'God, there is no god but He, the Living, the Everlasting. Slumber seizes Him not,
    الله لا اله الا هو الحى القيوم لا تاخذه
    (2) neither sleep; to Him belongs all that is in the heavens and the earth.
    سنة ولا نوم له ما في السموات وما في الارض
    (3) Who is there that shall intercede with Him save by His leave? He knows what lies before them and what is after them,
    من ذا [ا]لذى يشفع عنده الا باذنه يعلم ما بين ايديهم وما خلفهم
    (4) and they comprehend not anything of His knowledge save such as He wills. His Throne comprises the heavens
    ولا يحيطون بشئ من علمه الا بما شاء وسع كرسيه السموات
    (5) and earth, the preserving of them oppresses Him not; He is the All-high, the All-glorious.' (Qur. II, 256/255)
    والارض ولا يؤده حفظهما وهو العلى العظيم

    One line follows the shape of the gem.
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