THREE HARDSTONE INTAGLIOS IN NASKH AND TA'LIQ SCRIPTS
Iran and India, 18th and 19th centuries

Comprising a large drop-shaped agate pendant, engraved with concentric bands of Arabic naskh script, the centre with sura ar-Ra’d (13) (the thunder glorifies His praise, and the angels fear Him), surrounded by the Throne Verse, sura al-Baqara (2), v. 255, framed by a band with the names of the Prophet and the Shi'a Saints, the penultimate band with the Chahar Ghol, four short suras beginning with the imperative ‘Say’: al-Kafiroon (109), al-Tawhid (112), al-Falaq (113), and an-Nas (114), in an unmarked gold mount with two bails, 6cm x 6cm x 0.5cm; another, darker, of similar shape, engraved in ta’liq script, presenting four bands with the Throne Verse, sura al-Baqara (2), v. 255, 5cm x 4.2cm x 0.5cm; and an off-white jade pendant, carved in a Mughal cusped oval shape, engraved in naskh script with the Throne Verse, sura al-Baqara (2), v. 255, and part of sura al-Ahzab (3), v. 3, suspended from a gold bail set with a small pearl and a faceted ruby, 5cm (including bail) x 6cm x 0.3cm (tapering to 0.1cm).

Provenance of the jade pendant: Sotheby's London, 30 April 1998, lot 74.