Description:

 A CALLIGRAPHIC ROCK CRYSTAL PENDANT WITH SILVER MOUNT, 19TH CENTURY, PERSIA
Qajar Iran, 19th century

Description:
An elongated hexagonal pendant of colourless rock crystal, finely engraved with vertical lines of Arabic calligraphy in naskh script. The inscriptions are likely comprised of Qur’anic verses or invocations for protection. The polished crystal is mounted in an ornate silver setting with jagged crenellated borders and a bulbous suspension loop, suggesting the piece was worn as a personal amulet.

The clarity of the rock crystal, paired with the delicacy of the carving, underscores the technical skill of Qajar lapidaries. The silver mount shows traces of patina and light wear, while the crystal remains clear with crisp inscriptions visible on both sides.

Dimensions:
Length: 6.5cm

Comparable examples:

  • A Qajar rock crystal pendant in silver mount, Sotheby’s, Arts of the Islamic World, London, 28 April 2021, Lot 124, sold for £4,750. 

  • A 19th-century Persian rock crystal amulet with silver casing, Bonhams, Islamic and Indian Art, London, 25 October 2016, Lot 114, sold for £4,250. 

  • A comparable engraved pendant in the British Museum, London, accession no. 1909,0725.2, published in Islamic Amulets, Rachel Ward, 2012.

Provenance:
Private UK collection

Note:
Rock crystal was prized across Islamic lands for its spiritual symbolism and visual purity. In the Qajar period, amulets and pendants were often carved with sacred text and encased in precious metals for devotional and protective use. This example’s unusual elongated shape and sharply faceted mount suggest both personal significance and a refined aesthetic sensibility.

 

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May 6, 2025 1:00 PM BST
London, United Kingdom

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