TWENTY-THREE EARLY ISLAMIC LEAD SEALS FROM FILASTIN

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A COLLECTION OF EARLY ISLAMIC LEAD BULLAE FROM FILASTIN (PALESTINE) Lead bullae are well known from the classical Roman and Byzantine world but are very rare indeed in the Islamic. They are seal impressions which were used either to seal documents or, more frequently, to seal chambers, stores or chests in an official manner to stop the contents being pilfered. The edges were clipped since lead was a rare metal and they could be re-used for another seal. This factor is probably also why so few have come down to the present; they were melted to be re-used once their immediate use had finished.

TWENTY-THREE EARLY ISLAMIC LEAD SEALS FROM FILASTIN

PALESTINE, 7TH-8TH CENTURY

Details

TWENTY-THREE EARLY ISLAMIC LEAD SEALS FROM FILASTIN
Palestine, 7th-8th century
Mostly single-sided, but some stamped with inscriptions on both sides, some worked as a rivet, others folded over at the sides before being stamped, a third type stamped on both sides expanding over the narrow waist, some with damages and unclear inscriptions, most with overall white or pale brown patination
largest 2½in. (6.4cm.) high (23)

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

The general details of the inscriptions are as follows:

1: inscribed on one side: al-amir al-hajjaj b. yusif (a comparable bullae was sold in these Rooms 14 October 1997, lot 354)
2: inscribed on both sides: [a]l-amir , [su]layman, dateable to before AH 96
3: inscribed on both sides: khatam kura ludd , iqlim sarmin (?) mujaba (?), dateable to before AH 90
4: inscribed on both sides: khatam kura Bayt jibrin , iqlim ..... khuza'a(?), dateable to before AH 90
5: inscribed on both sides: [bis]m allah ['ab]dallah [sulay]man , [a]mir al-m[u'mi]nin, dated AH 96-99
6: ...sanat 'ashara wa mi'a , unread , dated AH 110, (a "rivet" seal).
7: ...ml al ...al-kaf... , unread (a "rivet" seal)
8: obverse: [bis]m allah amar [bihi al-amir] sa'id b. 'abd ['al-]malik sana(?), dated (ca 105-126) probably AH 126
9: obverse: al-amir sa'id b. 'abd al-malik, dated probably AH 126
10: both sides: al-amir , mansur b. zayd
11: obverse: [bism allah ...] amara [bihi wa khata]ma fi khilaaf[a 'abd al]lah marwan [amir al-mu']minin aslahahu [allah ...), dated AH 127 or 128
12: obverse: [bism allah al-ra]hman al-rahim [u]fu al-kayl wa la [taku]nu min al-[mu]khsi[rin kha]tama fi khilafa ['abd] allah marwan am[ir al]- mu'minin aslaha[hu allah wa] atala baqahu [al]-wali 'uthman b. al-[walid sana sa)b'a-'ish[rin wa-mi'a], dated AH 127
13: bism allah mimma amara bihi 'abd allah 'abd allah amir al-mu'minin aslahahu , allah fi wilayat al-amir salih b. 'ali aslahahu [allah] sana khamsa wa thalathin wa mi'a, dated AH 135
14: obverse: filastin iliya sana khams wa khamsin wa mi'a, dated AH 155
15: obverse: ufu a[l]-kayl wa la takunu min a[l-mukhsirin]
16: obverse: bism allah aflaha man 'awfa
17: obverse: li'llah al-wafa
18: li'llah , al-wafa
19: ... , al-sirr wa allah [ya]'lam
20: bism all[ah] , m li'l-khaza'in
21: [bi]sm [al]lah , qufila bi-Ham[a or hims]
22: bism allah [a]l-nadr [b. sali]h yahmada[n] allah
23: manfa' (?) , maslaha (?)

Another impression of the same seal in the name of al-Hajjaj b. Yusuf as the first mentioned above was sold in these Rooms 14 October 1997, lot 354. Please see the note to that lot for further details of this prominent figure in early Islamic history.

Further details of each individual seal are available on request to the department.

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