Lot 206: AN ISLAMIC COPPER ALLOY KAABA ORNAMENT CALLIGRAPHIC ARCHITECTURAL BOSS, 19TH CENTURY

The object is cast with a pyramidal profile and a prominent central hemispherical dome. The face is decorated with two horizontal bands of Naskh Arabic calligraphy. The upper band reads ‘لا إله إلا الله’ (Lā ʾilāha ʾillā llāh), translated as ‘There is no god but Allah’, and the lower band reads ‘محمد رسول الله’ (Muḥammad rasūl Allāh), translated as ‘Muhammad is the messenger of Allah’. Together these inscriptions form the Shahada, the Islamic declaration of faith. The central boss is flanked by two vertical stylised floral motifs, each featuring a segmented stalk with two out-turned crescent leaves at the base, topped with a multi-petalled rosette. Four scrolling foliate motifs occupy the corners surrounding the boss. Traces of a silver-coloured material in the recessed lettering suggest original niello or silver inlay, while the raised surfaces show remnants of gilding.

12 by 12cm