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 inscribed with the Throne verse

  • loan
  • Literature notes

    Orange-grey jasper; bezel, bevelled towards the front; oval. The inscription is found on the central ground (A), within two concentric oval lines, and on the border (B), within a single oval line. Two lines of cursive script in the central ground (A), in relief; two lines of cursive script in the border (B) engraved.

    A - (1) Oh God the Praised in يا الله المحمود في
    (2) all His actions! كل فعاله

    B - (1) In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate. "God, there 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
    بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 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
    (2) 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 the All-high, the All-glorious.' (Qur. II, 256/255)
    وما خلفهم ولا يحيطون بشئ من علمه الا بما شاء وسع كرسيه السموات والارض
    ولا يؤده حفظهما وهو العلى العظيم
    There are small flower heads consisting of groups of dots spread over the central 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
    jasper, bevelled and incised
    Dimensions
    2.3 x 3 x 0.3 cm (height x width x depth)
    Material index
    inorganicstonesilicaquartz jasper,
    inorganicstonegemstonequartz jasper,
    inorganicmineralsilicaquartz jasper,
    Technique index
    cut,
    Object type index
    No. of items
    1
    Credit line
    Lent by the Bodleian Library, University of Oxford.
    Accession no.
    LI1008.44
  • Further reading

    Kalus, Ludvik, Catalogue of Islamic Seals and Talismans (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1986), no. 1.40 on pp. 68-69, pl. II.1.40

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

    Orange-grey jasper; bezel, bevelled towards the front; oval. The inscription is found on the central ground (A), within two concentric oval lines, and on the border (B), within a single oval line. Two lines of cursive script in the central ground (A), in relief; two lines of cursive script in the border (B) engraved.

    A - (1) Oh God the Praised in يا الله المحمود في
    (2) all His actions! كل فعاله

    B - (1) In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate. "God, there 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
    بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 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
    (2) 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 the All-high, the All-glorious.' (Qur. II, 256/255)
    وما خلفهم ولا يحيطون بشئ من علمه الا بما شاء وسع كرسيه السموات والارض
    ولا يؤده حفظهما وهو العلى العظيم
    There are small flower heads consisting of groups of dots spread over the central ground.
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