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Talisman

10th century-16th century (made)

In the medieval Middle East, rock crystal and other precious and semi-precious stones were considered to have properties which we would now think of as magical or supernatural. Because of its clarity, rock crystal was believed to have affinities with air and water and was sometimes associated with rain. The inscriptions on this item, which include the name of the prophet Solomon, show that it had a talismanic function of some sort.

Object details

Category
Object type
Materials and techniques
Carved rock crystal
Brief description
Rock crystal sphere with talismanic inscriptions in Arabic, including some in 'linear Kufic' script, Middle East, 10th-16th century.
Physical description
Carved rock crystal sphere inscribed in Arabic, including talismanic texts in 'linear Kufic' script, on one side.
Dimensions
  • Diameter: 3.1cm
Marks and inscriptions
(Inscribed with three lines of text in Arabic, written in a Kufic style (A, B, C on image), which are framed by four lines of 'linear Kufic' script (D, E, F, G on image). Lines A, B and C consist of one word repeated three times. The word in line A is the name Sulayman (Solomon), written in scriptio defectiva, in positive (as opposed to reversed, as on a seal). See image for transcription by Tim Stanley.)
Gallery label
(2016-2018)
2016-2018 Display: Amulets, Talismans and Fortune Telling in the Middle East

Rock Crystal Amulets:
Rock crystal is a pure form of quartz and a semi-precious stone. In Islamic tradition, it was felt to have auspicious qualities and was used for talismans and amulets. Some linked its transparency to water and thought it would bring rain. Others believed that blessings could be gained just by looking at a rock crystal object.

Shi'ites in particular associate the stone with the Imam Ali (son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad) and his tomb at Najaf in Iraq. Historically, Iraq was a major source of rock crystal.

8. Ring
Iran
1700-1800
Inscribed with a Shi'ite prayer
Rock crystal, engraved in a silver mount
On loan to the V&A

9. Seal
Iran
1700-1800
Inscribed with a Shi'ite prayer
Rock crystal, engraved
On loan to the V&A

10. Pendant
Iran
About 1700
Inscribed in Arabic with the 114th surah (chapter) of the Qur'an, Al-Nas (People)
Rock crystal, engraved, in a gold mount
On loan to the V&A

11. Talisman
Middle East
Date unknown
Undeciphered inscription in a cryptic script
Rock crystal, engraved
Museum no. ME.2-2002
Bequeathed by Mr and Mrs Ernest Schwaiger

12. Rock crystal amulet
Egypt
About 1800
Inscribed in Arabic with the 111th surah (chapter) of the Qur'an, named after the Prophet Hud: 'And my success is not but through God.'
Rock crystal, engraved and gilded
Museum no. M.211:H-1929
Given by Thomas Bryan Clarke-Thornhill
Credit line
Bequeathed by Mr and Mrs Ernest Schwaiger
Object history
For comparable objects, see Venetia Porter, "Stones to Bring Rain? Magical Inscriptions in Linear Kufic on Rock Crystal Amulet-seals", in Sheila Blair and Jonathan Bloom (eds), Rivers of Paradise: Water in Islamic Art and Culture, New Haven and London, 2009, pp.131-159.
Summary
In the medieval Middle East, rock crystal and other precious and semi-precious stones were considered to have properties which we would now think of as magical or supernatural. Because of its clarity, rock crystal was believed to have affinities with air and water and was sometimes associated with rain. The inscriptions on this item, which include the name of the prophet Solomon, show that it had a talismanic function of some sort.
Collection
Accession number
ME.2-2002

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Record createdApril 25, 2006
Record URL
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