EGYPT, 11TH CENTURY

Details

A FATIMID GOLD FILIGREE MINIATURE QUR'AN CASE
EGYPT, 11TH CENTURY
Of rectangular form and box construction worked with very fine wire and granulation, the face with central circular segmented window in a field of geometricised spiralling foliage forming a pattern of circles and triangles, the reverse with an overall geometric lattice based on interlocking hexagons, three sides formed from simple lattice, the top left open, small dents and one loop missing
1¾in. (4.7cm.) across

Special notice

VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price plus buyer's premium.

Lot Essay

This extremely finely worked pendant typifies Fatimid granulated wire decoration at close to its best. The enclosure of the dense granulated scrollwork within a border of fine wire decoration that does not however have granulation is also typical. The central panel that was originally inset is also something that is found in a number of items, notably a pair of earrings in the L A Mayer Memorial Museum, Jerusalem (Rachel Hasson, Early Islamic Jewellery, Jerusalem, 1987, no.102). For another good example of jeweller's work from the Fatimid or Ayyubid period please see lot 66 in this sale. Looking at the surviving examples of Fatimid jewellery it seems more probable that the central panel would originally have been inset with an enamelled panel rather than a precious stone.

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