Knotted silk on silk foundation. Mihrab with lamp and inscription "Ya Wahid".For the latest information about this object, carpets, visit art.thewalters.org.Dynasty: Inscriptions: Reign: Style:
The ancient Egyptians believed that the dung beetle, the Scarabaeus sacer, was one of the manifestations of the sun god. Representations of these beetles were used as amulets, and for ritual or administrative purposes.
The back of this large scarab has its highest point at the elytron (wing cases). Partition and division lines of pronotum (dorsal plate of the prothorax) and elytron are covered with a setting of golden bands. The rectangular head is flanked by semi-ovoid eyes; the side plates are trapezoidal with curved outer edges, and the clypeus (front plate) is five times serrated. The raised, slender extremities have natural form, and the background between the legs is hollowed out. The shape of the low base is symmetrically long-oval.
The inscription on the bottom has seven lines of a left reading text and seven horizontal text dividers; the inscription is framed by an oval line. The bottom inscription is executed in sunk relief or linearly incised; the hieroglyphs are slim and elongated, some have inner structures, and some are slightly disproportional; the layout has several irregularities, such as lopsided signs, or hoe-like pseudo-hieroglyphs, which collide with the outer border. The execution of back and bottom differs: the back and sides are carefully formed, but the bottom inscription is very rough. The gold leaf and linen fragments are randomly attached.
The scarab is pierced lengthwise, what normally refers to an additional mount or support, but is unusual for a Heart scarab of this large size. The scarab shows several discrepancies, which lead to the conclusion that it was produced in modern times. Most probably it imitates a Heart scarab, which was made to be placed on the chest of a mummy. To give it a more ancient look, linen fragments were attached, and to make it more precious, small pieces of gold foil added.
The following discrepancies have to be mentioned:
- The text on the back is not a direct copy of an original Heart scarab and was created without adequate knowledge of ancient Egyptian language and script;
- the script style has no ancient Egyptian parallel;
- the name of an owner is missing, and there is also not enough empty space to add a name, as in unused, prefabricated Heart scarabs;
- the gold bands on the back seem to be copied from settings of hard stone scarabs, but without understanding of the function of the bands as a setting;
- a longitudinal drill would be unusual for a scarab of this size;
- traces of the mummy wrappings would normally not adhere to the body of a glazed scarab and may have been adapted from wooden pieces.For the latest information about this object, scarabs; amulets, visit art.thewalters.org.Dynasty: Nineteenth DynastyInscriptions: [Inscription] The inscription provides no clear context; the producer just copied words and signs. Some signs have no real comparison in Egyptian script (such as the baboon-headed animal with the tail of the god Seth or the short how-signs at the right and left edge of the lowest line), and others are reversed or upside down. There are also no obvious parallels to enigmatic texts or cryptographic writings.Reign: Style:
This unusual faience pectoral has scenes carved on the front face, the back is blank. In the top register two worshippers in short kilts stand before a table of offerings set before the seated Osiris; in the bottom register, a man stands in a boat while another poles it along. Birds are perched on the papyrus blossoms at either end of the craft. The combination of the motifs, the style of the figures, and the unfunctional holes on the back indicate that this object was produced in the late 19th or early 20th century.For the latest information about this object, plaques (flat objects); pectorals, visit art.thewalters.org.Dynasty: Inscriptions: Reign: Style:
The triangular pedants are cast, and the top and the five bottom loops soldered on. The top loop holds a ring, which connects the main pendant with a small rhombic element decorated with an attached five-ring filigree-like motif. This element has an additional loop to fasten it at the headscarf. The décor of the triangles combines a stylized rosette with tear-shaped elements; a bead-molded border frames the motif. The single and double chains, which are hanging down from the loops of the triangles, fit together by small rings. The missing single or double chain was originally fastened at the upper loop of one and the lower loop of the other triangle. This arrangement was used, because the chains were twisted toward each other.
On the back of both triangles is an Arabic stamp with the date: nusfi 1287 (the term "nusfi" means "half"). In AH 1287 (AD 1870/1), al-Hadi Galib ruled in Sana"a', but also Saykh Muhsin b. "Ali Mu'id.
In addition, there is an engraved Hebrew inscription with the name of the silversmith: Sh(lomo) Sharayan, mahasit. The term "mahasit" means "half."
The elongated hooks are probably modern additions.For the latest information about this object, pendants, visit art.thewalters.org.Dynasty: Inscriptions: [Stamp] In Arabic: nusfi 1287 AH; [Engraved] In Hebrew: S(lomo) Sarayan, mahasitReign: Al-Hadi Galib (1287 AH/AD 1870-1871) (?)Style:
The headband consists of a flexible interlaced silver band with square endpieces, each with rosette-shaped knob that fastens the band inside the terminals. The band is decorated with a large central rosette in the center, which is combined with a smaller rosette and a dangle below. Two smaller disk with rosettes on each side of the large central rosette are directly attached to the band. In addition, between end-pieces, discs, and the central rosette are four combinations of rhombic elements flanked by slim bars with a five-disc motif, each of which is attached to a movable retainer. The rhombic elements are decorated with smaller rhombs in the center enclosed by rings and disks. The decoration of the attachments is made in filigree technique; the large central rosette is worked in repoussé. Hanging down from the band are forty-five multi-element dangles, which combine rings, disks, and small cuboids.
At the back of one endpiece is a stamp with the Arabic date: nusfi (128)7 (the term nusfi means "half"). In this year al-Hadi Galib ruled in Sana"a', but also Saykh Muhsin b. "Ali Mu'id. It was one year before the second Ottoman occupation of Yemen began. On the back of the other end-piece is an engraved Hebrew inscription that names the silversmith: Shm(uel) Sharayan, mahasit. The term mahasit means "half."For the latest information about this object, headbands, visit art.thewalters.org.Dynasty: Inscriptions: [Stamp] In Arabic: nusfi (128)7 AH; [Engraved] In Hebrew: Sm(uel) Sarayan, mahasitReign: Al-Hadi Galib (1287 AH/AD 1870-1871) (?)Style:
This pen box is adorned with scenes from one of the great classics of Persian literature: the Haft Paykar (Seven Images) by the medieval poet Nizami of Ganja (ca. 1141-1209). The central part of the Haft Paykar elaborates on a series of visits made by the pre-Islamic Sassanian king Bahram V Gur to the princesses of the seven climes, each of whom recounts an edifying story on kingly virtues, followed by the pleasures of feasting and love, as depicted here. In the central oval on the top of this pen box is the image of the Virgin Mary and infant Jesus.For the latest information about this object, pen boxes; lids, visit art.thewalters.org.Dynasty: Qajar DynastyInscriptions: Reign: Style:
This 19th-century Ottoman Turkish black leather binding from Walters manuscript W.577 is decorated with a tooled and gold-painted geometric design enclosed by frames, including a wide frame with tooled chain-link design.For the latest information about this object, bindings, visit art.thewalters.org.Dynasty: Inscriptions: Reign: Style:
This final page of Walters manuscript W.577 has a signed and dated colophon written in Ijazah script. The colophon indicates that the text was copied by Muhammad ibn Mustafá in 1282 AHAD/ 1865-1866. It also indicates that this codex is the 21st copy made by this particular calligrapher.For the latest information about this object, illuminated manuscripts; folios (leaves), visit art.thewalters.org.Dynasty: Inscriptions: [Transliteration] In Arabic, vocalized: katabahu al-faqīru ilá Allāhi ta 'ālá /1/ Mubākshāhu ibn Qutbin ghafara Allāhu /2/ dhunūbahumā wa-satara 'uyūbahumā fī Sha'bāni /3/ sanata thalāth wa-'ishrīna wa-sab'a mi'atin /4/ hāmidan li-Llāhi ta'ālá 'alá ni'amihi wa-musalliyan /5/ 'alá nabīyihi Muhammadin wa-ālihi al-ghurari al-kirāmi /6/ al-tayyibīna al-tāhirīna wa-musalliman taslīman /7/Reign: Style:
This folio from Walters manuscript W.577 is an illuminated text page with the initial verses of chapter 3 (Surat al-'imran). The text is written in Naskh script in black ink with reading marks in red. Illuminated discs with colored dots separate the verses.For the latest information about this object, illuminated manuscripts; folios (leaves), visit art.thewalters.org.Dynasty: Inscriptions: Reign: Style:
This folio from Walters manuscript W.577 is an illuminated text page that represents the clear Naskh script in black ink used throughout the manuscript.For the latest information about this object, illuminated manuscripts; folios (leaves), visit art.thewalters.org.Dynasty: Inscriptions: Reign: Style:
This folio from Walters manuscript W.577 is the left side of this illuminated double-page incipit and is the incipit for chapter 2 (Surat al-baqarah). The page is divided into three compartments: an upper and lower panel flanking a central area. In the upper and lower panels the chapter title and number of verses are inscribed in headings in Riqa' script in white ink. In the central area the Qur'anic verses are written in vocalized Naskh script in black ink with reading marks in red. The border contains polychrome trefoils and floral scroll work on a blue ground.For the latest information about this object, illuminated manuscripts; folios (leaves), visit art.thewalters.org.Dynasty: Inscriptions: Reign: Style: