Description:

 A TIMURID INSCRIBED JADE SEAL, 15TH CENTURY, PERSIA
Timurid Iran, 15th century

Description:
A circular jade seal deeply engraved with Arabic inscriptions in fine naskh script, likely featuring a combination of Qur’anic phrases, names, and benedictions. The surface of the jade is polished to a smooth finish, exhibiting the soft green hue typical of Central Asian nephrite. The inscription is laid out in tight, even lines that follow the curvature of the stone, with precise carving that speaks to the technical refinement of Timurid lapidary arts.

The seal is well preserved, showing only minor surface abrasions. It would have been used to authenticate documents or as a personal amulet, and may have once been mounted in a ring or worn as a pendant.

Dimensions:
Diameter of jade: TBC

Comparable examples:

  • A Timurid-period jade seal inscribed in Arabic, Sotheby’s, Arts of the Islamic World, London, 25 April 2018, Lot 92, sold for £6,875. 

  • A circular green jade seal from Timurid Iran, Bonhams, Islamic and Indian Art, London, 22 October 2019, Lot 78, sold for £6,250. 

  • A comparable jade seal in the David Collection, Copenhagen, published in Art from the World of Islam in the David Collection, 2001.

Note:
Jade seals from the Timurid period reflect a confluence of Persian, Central Asian, and Chinese artistic influences. Prized for their durability and symbolism, jade seals were markers of status and spiritual protection. The clarity and craftsmanship of this example align it with high-ranking or scholarly ownership, underscoring its dual function as a practical and sacred object.

 

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

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Bid Increments
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£0 £99 £5
£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