Persian Agate Islamic Talisman

Islamic Talismanic Agate Roundel

This agate roundel is finely acid-etched with extremely intricate, dense bands of Islamic script and flowers. The roundel is etched with Koranic invocations, the names of God, the first chapter of the Koran, and so on. The agate itself is light green in colour with yellow mottling. It is not backed and so is at its most impressive when held up with a string light behind it thereby fabulously illuminating the script and motifs.

A similar, though larger and mounted talismanic agate was sold at Sotheby’s London, ‘Arts of the Islamic World’ sale, October 12, 2000 as lot 218. That piece is now in the Aga Khan’s collection (see Canby, 2007, p. 44 for an illustration, or see

), and had previously been on loan to the Institut Monde Arabe, Paris, from February 1998 to March 2000.

Such agates are talismanic in nature and were worn to protect the wearer from harm.

Canby S., et al, Spirit & Life: Masterpieces of Islamic Art from the Aga Khan Museum Collection, The Aga Khan Trust for Culture, 2007.

UK art market