- 102
A sapphire with Kufic inscription, Near East, circa 9th-11th century
Estimate
30,000 - 40,000 GBP
bidding is closed
Description
- Sapphire
the bright blue sapphire of characteristic form featuring an engraved Kufic inscription
Literature
inscriptions
In Kufic, possibly:
‘Harith Ibn Shakir’
In Kufic, possibly:
‘Harith Ibn Shakir’
Condition
In good condition, as viewed.
"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."
"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."
Catalogue Note
This rare sapphire was probably used as a personal seal, inscribed with the name Harith Ibn Shakir, and would have originally been mounted on a ring. Inscribed gemstones were also used as talismans or for personal adornment, the choice of material depending on the wealth of the commissioner.
During the first four centuries of Islam, mainly cabochon stones such as the present example were carved. This sapphire is inscribed with the owner’s name, Harith, with a reference to his father (Ibn Shakir– son of Shakir), as is common in Islamic practice.
It probably refers to Musa Ibn Shakir, who had three sons Muhammad, Ahmad and al-Hassan. Musa was a renowned astrologer and engineer in the court of the Abbasid Caliph al-Mamun (r.813–833), and is most remembered for his involvement in the calculation of the circumference of the earth. After his death, he left his three sons under the supervision of al-Mamun and eventually his successors, where they flourished as scholars in the fields of mathematics, astronomy, mechanics and geometry, translating ancient texts and overseeing important discoveries. The present engraved sapphire probably belonged to one of these sons, proudly associating themselves with the Ibn-Shakir name.
These were important recorders of lineage for successive generations. Particularly noteworthy is the use of the letter nun in Ibn which is exaggerated to create a decorative effect. Over time the script would evolve with letters becoming more rounded. Surviving examples show that until the eleventh century, gems were carved in a simplistic manner with only the names of the owner or Qu'ranic verses; only later were decorative aspects added, providing a probable early dating for the present sapphire. The physical smallness of such items and their eventual geographic scattering make them difficult to localise, although an attribution to the Near East for the present example is most likely. (For a further discussion on early engraved gemstones, please see: Derek J. Content, Islamic Rings and Gems: The Benjamin Zucker Collection, London, 1987).
During the first four centuries of Islam, mainly cabochon stones such as the present example were carved. This sapphire is inscribed with the owner’s name, Harith, with a reference to his father (Ibn Shakir– son of Shakir), as is common in Islamic practice.
It probably refers to Musa Ibn Shakir, who had three sons Muhammad, Ahmad and al-Hassan. Musa was a renowned astrologer and engineer in the court of the Abbasid Caliph al-Mamun (r.813–833), and is most remembered for his involvement in the calculation of the circumference of the earth. After his death, he left his three sons under the supervision of al-Mamun and eventually his successors, where they flourished as scholars in the fields of mathematics, astronomy, mechanics and geometry, translating ancient texts and overseeing important discoveries. The present engraved sapphire probably belonged to one of these sons, proudly associating themselves with the Ibn-Shakir name.
These were important recorders of lineage for successive generations. Particularly noteworthy is the use of the letter nun in Ibn which is exaggerated to create a decorative effect. Over time the script would evolve with letters becoming more rounded. Surviving examples show that until the eleventh century, gems were carved in a simplistic manner with only the names of the owner or Qu'ranic verses; only later were decorative aspects added, providing a probable early dating for the present sapphire. The physical smallness of such items and their eventual geographic scattering make them difficult to localise, although an attribution to the Near East for the present example is most likely. (For a further discussion on early engraved gemstones, please see: Derek J. Content, Islamic Rings and Gems: The Benjamin Zucker Collection, London, 1987).