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: 132 objects
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Oval bezel seal with kufic inscription
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Literature notes
Cornelian; bezel, bevelled towards the front; oval; back angle slightly rounded. The surface of the inferior face is divided into an oval field (A) and a border (B), these two units being separated by one oval line, doubled by the base line of the exterior kufic inscription. Three (A) and one (B) lines of kufic script; without dots. The reading of the exterior line (B) starts on the top of the right.
A - (1) 'As God will! ما شاء الله
(2) There is no power except in God!' (Qur. XVIII, 37/39) لا قوة الا بالله
(3) I ask pardon of God! استغفر الله
B - Muḥammad, ‘Alī, Fāṭima, al-Ḥasan, al-Ḥusayn, ‘Alī, Muḥammad, Ja‘far, Mūsā, ‘Alī, Muḥammad, ‘Alī, al-Ḥasan, al-Khalīf[?] Muḥammad
محمد على فاطمة الحسن الحسين على محمد جعفر موسى على محمد على الحسن الخليف [؟] محمد
This seal could perhaps be classified as late classical period (I.1). -
Details
- Associated place
- Date
- 14th century (1301 - 1400)
- Associated people
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Prophet Muhammad (c. AD 570 - 632) (named on object)'Ali ibn Abi Talib (ruled AD 656 - 661) (named on object)Fatima (AD 606 - 632) (named on object)Hasan ibn 'Ali ibn Abi Talib (AD c. 625 - 669) (named on object)Husain ibn 'Ali ibn Abi Talib (AD 626 - 680) (named on object)'Ali ibn al-Husayn (died AD 714) (named on object)Muhammad ibn 'Ali (died AD 733) (named on object)Ja'far ibn Muhammad (died AD 765) (named on object)Musa ibn Ja'far (died AD 799) (named on object)'Ali ibn Musa (AD 765 - 818) (named on object)Muhammad Jawad ibn 'Ali (died AD 835) (named on object)'Ali al-Hadi ibn Muhammad (died AD 868) (named on object)al-Hasan ibn 'Ali (died AD 874) (named on object)Muhammad al-Mahdi (occultation AD 940) (named on object)
- Material and technique
- cornelian, bevelled and incised
- Dimensions
- 1.2 x 1.8 x 0.2 cm (height x width x depth)
- Material index
- Technique index
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cut,
- Object type index
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tool/implement › matrix › seal
- No. of items
- 1
- Credit line
- Presented by the Reverend Greville J. Chester, 1872.
- Accession no.
- EAX.3308
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Further reading
Kalus, Ludvik, Catalogue of Islamic Seals and Talismans (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1986), no. 2.1.13 on pp. 17-18, pl. I.2.1.13
Chester, Greville J., Catalogue of the Egyptian Antiquities in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford (Oxford: Parker, 1881), no. 1449 on p. 88
Glossary
kufic
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kufic
A term denoting various styles of angular Arabic script. Emerged in the early centuries of Islam, kufic soon became the preferred hand to copy holy texts.
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
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Catalogue of Islamic Seals and Talismans
Cornelian; bezel, bevelled towards the front; oval; back angle slightly rounded. The surface of the inferior face is divided into an oval field (A) and a border (B), these two units being separated by one oval line, doubled by the base line of the exterior kufic inscription. Three (A) and one (B) lines of kufic script; without dots. The reading of the exterior line (B) starts on the top of the right.
A - (1) 'As God will! ما شاء الله
(2) There is no power except in God!' (Qur. XVIII, 37/39) لا قوة الا بالله
(3) I ask pardon of God! استغفر الله
B - Muḥammad, ‘Alī, Fāṭima, al-Ḥasan, al-Ḥusayn, ‘Alī, Muḥammad, Ja‘far, Mūsā, ‘Alī, Muḥammad, ‘Alī, al-Ḥasan, al-Khalīf[?] Muḥammad
محمد على فاطمة الحسن الحسين على محمد جعفر موسى على محمد على الحسن الخليف [؟] محمد
This seal could perhaps be classified as late classical period (I.1).
Notice
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