λ FOUR CARVED MOTHER-OF-PEARL TALISMANIC PENDANTS ENGRAVED WITH SHI'A IMAM NAMES
Collected in Lucknow, Awadh (Oudh), Northern India, late 19th century

Each pendant carved in oval shape with flattened top and bottom, the concave calligraphic cartouche in-filled with two lines of free-flowing nasta'liq script reading the names of four of the Twelve Shi'a Imams, specifically the fourth Imam, Ali Ibn al-Hussain (Zayn Al-Abidin); the seventh Imam, Musa Ibn Jafar (Al-Kadhim); the eighth Imam, Ali Ibn Musa (Al-Reza); and the twelfth Imam, Muhammad Ibn Hassan (Al-Mahdi), two of the pendants also bearing the number 4, possibly serving a symbolical, talismanic purpose.

Each 3cm x 2cm

λ This item may require Export or CITES licences in order to leave the UK. It is the buyer's responsibility to find out and conform to the specific export requirements of their country and ensure that lots have the relevant licences before shipping.