{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O123320"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O123320/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2016JE5625/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2016JE5625/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2016JE5625","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2016JE5626","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2016JE5627","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017KD1078","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O123320/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O123320","accessionNumber":"ME.2-2002","objectType":"Talisman","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"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.","physicalDescription":"Carved rock crystal sphere inscribed in Arabic, including talismanic texts in 'linear Kufic' script, on one side. ","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"quartz crystal","id":"AAT11152"}],"techniques":[{"text":"carving","id":"AAT53149"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Carved rock crystal","categories":[{"text":"Amulets","id":"THES48995"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MES","id":"THES48607"},"images":["2016JE5625","2016JE5626","2016JE5627","2017KD1078"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"005","id":"THES367636"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Talisman","id":"AAT234011"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"10th century-16th century","earliest":"0900-01-01","latest":"1599-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"There is no secure provenance for any rock crystal amulets in this form. The use of linear Kufic as the framing device may indicate a date after the twelfth century (Porter 2009, p.138). "}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Bequeathed by Mr and Mrs Ernest Schwaiger","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"3.1","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"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 <i>scriptio defectiva</i>, in positive (as opposed to reversed, as on a seal).\n\r\nSee image for transcription by Tim Stanley."}],"objectHistory":"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), <i>Rivers of Paradise: Water in Islamic Art and Culture</i>, New Haven and London, 2009, pp.131-159\n","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Rock crystal sphere with talismanic inscriptions in Arabic, including some in 'linear Kufic' script, Middle East, 10th-16th century.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"2016-2018 Display: Amulets, Talismans and Fortune Telling in the Middle East \r\n\r\nRock Crystal Amulets:\r\nRock 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. \r\n\r\nShi'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.\r\n\r\n8. Ring\r\nIran \r\n1700-1800\r\nInscribed with a Shi'ite prayer\r\nRock crystal, engraved in a silver mount\r\nOn loan to the V&A\r\n\r\n9. Seal\r\nIran \r\n1700-1800\r\nInscribed with a Shi'ite prayer\r\nRock crystal, engraved\r\nOn loan to the V&A\r\n\r\n10. Pendant\r\nIran \r\nAbout 1700\r\nInscribed in Arabic with the 114th surah (chapter) of the Qur'an, Al-Nas (People)\r\nRock crystal, engraved, in a gold mount\r\nOn loan to the V&A\r\n\r\n11. Talisman\r\nMiddle East\r\nDate unknown\r\nUndeciphered inscription in a cryptic script\r\nRock crystal, engraved\r\nMuseum no. ME.2-2002\r\nBequeathed by Mr and Mrs Ernest Schwaiger\r\n\r\n12. Rock crystal amulet\r\nEgypt\r\nAbout 1800\r\nInscribed in Arabic with the 111th surah (chapter) of the Qur'an, named after the Prophet Hud: 'And my success is not but through God.'\r\nRock crystal, engraved and gilded\r\nMuseum no. M.211:H-1929\r\nGiven by Thomas Bryan Clarke-Thornhill\r\n","date":{"text":"2016-2018","earliest":"2016-01-01","latest":"2018-12-31"}}],"partNumbers":["ME.2-2002"],"accessionNumberNum":"2","accessionNumberPrefix":"ME","accessionYear":2002,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-04-01","recordCreationDate":"2006-04-25","availableToBook":true}}