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).
Publications online: 237 objects
Octagonal bezel amulet with thuluth inscription
- loan
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Literature notes
Cornelian; bezel, bevelled towards the back; rectangular with cut angles; front angle is very slightly cut, back angle is very slightly rounded. The inscriptions are distributed on both faces of the gem; front (large surface) (R) and back (smaller surface) (V).
Obverse - Four lines of cursive script; engraved.
(1) 'The unbelievers wellnigh وان يكاد الذين كفروا
(2) strike thee down with their glances, when they hear ليزلقونك بابصارهم لما سمعوا
(3) the Reminder, and they say, "Surely he is a man possessed!" الذكر ويقولون انه لمجنون
(4) And it is nothing but a Reminder unto all those who know.' (Qur. LXVIII, 51-52) هو الا ذكر للعالمين
Reverse - Three lines of cursive script. The first line is underlined by an elongated ligature in the expression bi-smi, the second line by an elongated ligature in the word aḥad. Engraved.
(1) 'In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate. Say "He is بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم قل هو
(2) God, One, God, the Everlasting Refue, who has not begotten, and has not been be- الله احد الله الصمد لم يلد ولم
(3) gotten, and no is equal to Him." ' (Qur. CXII) يولد ولم يكن له كفوا احد -
Details
- Associated place
- Date
- probably 18th - 19th century (1701 - 1900)
- Material and technique
- cornelian, cut, bevelled, and incised
- Dimensions
- 1.05 x 1.3 x 0.2 cm (height x width x depth)
- Material index
- Technique index
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cut,
- Object type index
- No. of items
- 1
- Credit line
- Lent by the Bodleian Library, University of Oxford.
- Accession no.
- LI1008.101
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Further reading
Kalus, Ludvik, Catalogue of Islamic Seals and Talismans (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1986), no. 1.58 on pp. 78-79, pl. II.1.58
Location
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- 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
-
Catalogue of Islamic Seals and Talismans
Cornelian; bezel, bevelled towards the back; rectangular with cut angles; front angle is very slightly cut, back angle is very slightly rounded. The inscriptions are distributed on both faces of the gem; front (large surface) (R) and back (smaller surface) (V).
Obverse - Four lines of cursive script; engraved.
(1) 'The unbelievers wellnigh وان يكاد الذين كفروا
(2) strike thee down with their glances, when they hear ليزلقونك بابصارهم لما سمعوا
(3) the Reminder, and they say, "Surely he is a man possessed!" الذكر ويقولون انه لمجنون
(4) And it is nothing but a Reminder unto all those who know.' (Qur. LXVIII, 51-52) هو الا ذكر للعالمين
Reverse - Three lines of cursive script. The first line is underlined by an elongated ligature in the expression bi-smi, the second line by an elongated ligature in the word aḥad. Engraved.
(1) 'In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate. Say "He is بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم قل هو
(2) God, One, God, the Everlasting Refue, who has not begotten, and has not been be- الله احد الله الصمد لم يلد ولم
(3) gotten, and no is equal to Him." ' (Qur. CXII) يولد ولم يكن له كفوا احد
Notice
Object information may not accurately reflect the actual contents of the original publication, since our online objects contain current information held in our collections database. Click on 'buy this publication' to purchase printed versions of our online publications, where available, or contact the Jameel Study Centre to arrange access to books on our collections that are now out of print.
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