SHELL WITH INSCRIPTIONS. Hindustan (modern India and Pakistan), 17th century. Incised mother-of-pearl. Diameter 14.5 cm.
This palm-size, perfectly shaped mother-of-pearl shell has both an elegant design and an intriguing function. Its luminous surface is engraved with eight concentric rings containing verses from the Qur’an and religious invocations. The variety of the calligraphic styles and their layout make the design both dynamic and quite dignified. Although the intensity of the decorative program on the shell and the attention given to the minutest detail are unique, the shell may have been designed for a specific purpose that demonstrates how Muslims evoked the Qur’an in their everyday life. The concave shape of the shell and some of its decorative motifs suggest that it may have been used as a drinking vessel. In line with the belief in the protective and therapeutic power of the Qur’an, some Muslims drank water that came into direct contact with Qur’anic verses in order to obtain blessings and protection. Photo: AKDN. Learn more
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