Enrica Medugno
Senior Sale Coordinator
Lot 100*,R
A steel backplate with Persian and Hebrew inscriptions Persia, 18th Century
12 November 2024, 11:00 GMT
London, New Bond Street£10,000 - £15,000
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Oliver White
Head of Department
A steel backplate with Persian and Hebrew inscriptions
Persia, 18th Century
Persia, 18th Century
of curved form with cusped details to edges, hinges to top and partial buckle to one side, engraved with a partial cartouche to the top containing inscriptions in Persian and Hebrew, a further cartouche with Persian inscriptions, with two further inscriptions below
40 x 31 cm.
40 x 31 cm.
Footnotes
Inscriptions: the backplate is inscribed predominantly with Persian ethical texts; one Arabic saying attributed to Imam 'Ali; and an undeciphered text in the Hebrew alphabet (neither in Hebrew nor Judaeo-Persian). The Hebrew part is identified in the Persian text below as being a Hebrew text that was written on the cup of Kay Khusraw. A date of the completion of the text is given as the 'day of vanguard (yawm-e tali'eh) 1281; further Persian text describes it as being for the strength and protection of the army of Islam, the front providing protection against bullets, the back providing protection against swords and arrows, and describing it as better than making guns or other weapons.
The absence of the usual religious and talismanic texts makes it unlikely that this was meant to actually be worn in combat. It may rather have been for use in some kind of theatrical performance. The high quality of the hand and the inclusion of a saying attributed to Imam 'Ali, indicate that this was made in Persia in the 18th century. The date 1281, if a hijri one, would be equivalent to AD 1864-5 but the quality and style of the calligraphy would point to an earlier date.
Important Notice to Buyers
Some countries, e.g., the US, prohibit or restrict the purchase by its citizens (wherever located) and/or the import of certain types of works of particular origins. As a convenience to buyers, Bonhams has marked with the symbol R all lots of Iranian (Persian) and Syrian origin. It is each buyer's responsibility to ensure that they do not bid on or import a lot in contravention of the sanctions or trade embargoes that apply to them.