A FINE OTTOMAN CARVED CALLIGRAPHIC JADE PENDANT, SIGNED BY ABDULLAH LEMNI, TURKEY, DATED 1038 AH/1628 AD

inscriptions

Two couplets from two poems attributed to Sünbülzade Vehbi (1719-1809):

'O God, you are the Creator and the Provider,

You provide for all of Your creatures

Make (me) needy of no doorway other than Your gate,

Extract “None but He!” from my tongue!'

Jade (yashm) was prized by the Turkmen tribes for its prophylactic as well as its visual qualities. It was believed to detect poison, cure eye disease and stomach illness, and to protect against natural calamities such as earthquakes and lightning. Its putative magical, talismanic attributes extended to the battle field. According to Al-Biruni: "It is said that jade or one variety of it is called the victory stone and for this reason the Turks decorated their swords, saddles and belts with it, desirous of gaining victory over their contestants and opponents. Others emulate them in this respect by fashioning from it seals and knife handle." (Lentz and Lowry 1989, p.221)