A TALISMANIC SCROLL
Iran, 19th century

Arabic manuscript, numerals, and symbols on paper, in black and red ink naskh script with gold highlights, with charts, graphs, and symbols including the Star of David, invoking the great seal of Solomon, including a repetition of the Sura Al-Nas (the last Sura of Qur’an, 114), prayers to Moses, Jesus, and the prophet Mohammad, mounted, framed and glazed, 78cm x 6.5cm, 91.5cm x 19.5cm including the frame.

Provenance: Bonhams London, 19 January 2011, part of lot 42.

Possibly produced by a Jewish do’a nevis (prayer scribe), this union of the three major faiths in solving problems and warding off evil is a note-worthy vignette of the historically peaceful coexistence of different monotheistic faiths in the Islamic lands.