Description:

Description:
A generously proportioned seal, expertly engraved with lines of Arabic calligraphy in graceful nastaʿlīq script. 

Inscription reads 

Say I seek refuge with the lord of An-Nas
The king of An-Nas
The God of An-Nas
From the evil of the whisperer who withdraws
Who whispers in the breasts of An-Nas
Of jinn and An-Nas

The stone exhibits a light green hue with high translucency, natural internal veining, and minor surface fissures—typical of untreated emeralds of this scale.

The oval form is smoothly finished, with clean edges and a balanced layout. Despite some natural inclusions and surface flaws, the inscription remains sharp and legible, highlighting the technical mastery of Qajar lapidaries.

Dimensions:
3.36g

Comparable examples:

  • A large engraved emerald amulet, Sotheby’s, Arts of the Islamic World, London, 1 May 2019, Lot 77, sold for £6,500. 

  • A Qajar emerald with multi-line inscription, Bonhams, Islamic and Indian Art, London, 22 October 2019, Lot 92, sold for £5,625. 

  • A comparable inscribed emerald intaglio in the al-Sabah Collection, Kuwait, published in Treasures of the Mughal World, Keene and Kaoukji, 2001.

Provenance:
Private Dutch collection

Note:
Large emerald intaglios of this kind were often treasured as both talismans and heirlooms, engraved with sacred texts believed to offer spiritual protection and divine favor. Their use in Qajar Iran reflects both religious devotion and a deep appreciation for the visual beauty of calligraphy. The scale and clarity of this example make it a particularly striking object of personal significance and artistic merit.

 

Accepted Forms of Payment:

MasterCard, Visa, Wire Transfer

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

PLAKAS

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Bid Increments
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£100 £199 £10
£200 £499 £20
£500 £999 £50
£1,000 £1,999 £100
£2,000 £4,999 £200
£5,000 £9,999 £500
£10,000 £19,999 £1,000
£20,000 £49,999 £2,000
£50,000 £99,999 £5,000
£100,000 £199,999 £10,000
£200,000 £499,999 £20,000
£500,000 £999,999 £50,000
£1,000,000 + £100,000