A Carved Marble stele, Egypt, 9th century

of square form, grey marble carved with seventeen lines of text in Kufic script, a band of scrolls surmounting the text

"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

inscriptions

Including: the bismillah; a long form of shahada; Qur'an chapters IX (al-Tawba), v.33 and CXII (al-Ikhlas) followed by a short unclear text (undeciphered)

A funerary stele in the Benaki Museum, dated 257 AH/ 871 AD, displays the same rope-pattern border (inv. no.10775, illustrated in Amsterdam 1999, p.208, no.178). For related material see: G. Wiet, Les Stèles funéraires, Musée Arabe du Caire, Cairo, 1941, tome 9; and M. El-Habib, Stèles funéraires kairouanaises du IIIe/IXe au Ve/XIe Siècle, PhD thesis under the supervision of J. Sourdel-Thomine, Paris-Sorbonne, 1972.