Talisman and Box

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Object Name: 
Talisman and Box
Place Made: 
Accession Number: 
95.6.16
Dimensions: 
a) Talisman H: 4.5 cm, W: 5 cm, Th: .6 cm; b) Box H: 5.6 cm, W: 5.7 cm, Th: .8 cm
Location: 
On Display
Date: 
1569-1570
Primary Description: 
Talisman and Box. (a) Light grayish green translucent glass in imitation of jade; (b) silver; (a) cast, polished, drilled, engraved; (b) beaten, cut, soldered. (a) Talisman: two-sided plaque with flat base and dome-like profile which has two upward curving projections near bottoms of edges and stepped finial at top. Sides and underside of base covered with carefully executed inscriptions in cursive Arabic script : (side 1) short inscription on finial; five lines of inscriptions, each inscription separated from next by two incised horizontal lines, all contained within continuous border of alternating leaf sprays and flowers with four petals; (side 2) five lines of inscriptions, each inscription separated form next by two incised horizontal lines, all contained within continuous border of two incised lines; (base) horizontal cartouche containing inscription with date 997 in Arabic numerals. (b) Box: shallow, two-sided container made to receive talisman and of identical shape; top consists of flat hinged lid with two short prongs that clasp edges; edges are single strip of metal joined at "finial"; bottom is flat. At top of finial, loop for suspension.
Department: 
Provenance: 
Christie's, NY, Source
1995-09-29
Category: 
Inscription: 
997
inscription
Engraved base [Arabic numerals]
CHRISTIES / 22 SEPT 95 / 464
label
Front of lid
Recent Important Acquisitions, 38 (1996) illustrated, p. 231, #6; BIB# AI97737