Lot 44: AN ISLAMIC CALLIGRAPHIC INSCRIBED AGATE TALISMANIC PLAQUE.
0 views
An oval, dark carnelian agate tablet, carved in intaglio with religious calligraphy. The stone displays a deep brownish-orange tone with subtle translucency. The face is meticulously engraved with four horizontal registers of text, each separated by horizontal bands and enclosed within a triple-line oval border. The calligraphy is rendered in a refined Naskh style, set against a densely stippled or dotted background.
The inscription contains the Nad-e Ali, a well-known Shia devotional prayer. The text begins on the top register with the words Nadi Aliyan mazhar al-ajaib (Call upon Ali, the manifester of wonders) and continues through the subsequent registers: Tajidhu awnan laka fin-nawaib / Kullu hammin wa ghammin sayanjali / Bi-wilayatika ya Ali, ya Ali, ya Ali (You will find him a helper in times of calamity / Every care and grief will vanish / Through your guardianship, O Ali, O Ali, O Ali). The technique employs fine lapidary engraving, likely produced in Qajar Iran or the Deccan region of India.
Condition report:
The plaque is in excellent condition. The polished surface and intricate engravings are crisp and well-defined with no visible chips, cracks, or significant abrasions (photo 1). The edges are smooth and show no signs of mounting wear or impact damage.
Share this lot: