Oval bezel seal with kufic inscription and plait decoration
Details
-
Title
Oval bezel seal with kufic inscription and plait decoration
-
Associated place
-
Date
10th - 13th century (AD 901 - 1300) -
Material and technique
haematite, bevelled and incised
-
Material index
-
Technique index
-
Object type
-
Dimensions
1.4 x 1.6 x 0.25 cm (height x width x depth) -
No. of items
1
-
Credit line
Presented by the Reverend Greville J. Chester, 1872.
-
Museum location
Museum department
Eastern Art
Accession no.
EAX.3310
Our online collection is being continually updated. Find out more
Know more about this object? Spotted an error? Contact us
-
Catalogue text
Haematite; bezel, bevelled towards the back; oval; front angle is very slightly rounded; the back side is a little damaged. Two lines of kufic script, in tête-bêche; without dots; separated by an ornamental motif.
(1) The tranquility of man راحة الانسان
(2) (lies in) the guarding of the tongue حفظ اللسان
The ornamental motif separating the two lines of the inscription is made up of two lines plaited together, bound by a series of simple loops; the ends of the lines separate outwards. The ensemble is close to the motif known as beads and reel.
This sentence is known to M. Reinaud, Monumens arabes, persans et turcs du cabinet de M. Le Duc de Blacas et d'autres cabinets, t. II, Paris, 1828, p. 261, n. 1.In: Kalus, Ludvik, Catalogue of Islamic Seals and Talismans (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1986)
Glossary of terms
kufic
Further reading
Kalus, Ludvik, Catalogue of Islamic Seals and Talismans (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1986), no. 1.1.5 on p. 5, pl. I.1.1.5
Reference URL
