Ancient Art, Antiquities, Books, Natural History & Coins

Comprising a D-section hoop with expanding shoulders, a gilt shield with scrolls on each shoulder, and a low-relief cross expanding across the bezel with scrollwork background. 7.68 grams, 24.33 mm overall, 17.70 x 18.33 mm internal diameter (approximate size British O, USA 7, Europe 14.98, Japan 14)



Acquired on the European art market.

With thick looped body and striking face to the outer edge; handle formed in openwork with stylized serpent-head, open mouth with recurved teeth, trident tail with similar, pellet-clusters; engraved and drilled detailing. 297 grams, 11.5 cm



Acquired in Christie's, The Longridge Collection, London, UK, 2010 (£1,276.00). Personal collection of a Suffolk lady, UK.

Among the objects reflecting the continuation of traditional figural compositions in Indo-Iranian art, there are zoomorphic flint strikers, decorated with serpents, ducks or geese and hawks attacking birds, indicating the persistence of imperial and solar symbols.

Octagonal tabular bifacial panel with incised borders; dense nastaliq script to each face; with old collector's note with transliteration and translation 'Constant hearing with the blessing of the name Muhammed / Sakander Abbas'. 1.63 grams, 17 mm



From the private collection of a European gentleman (1942-2024), formed since the 1970s.

The Nastaʿlīq was one of the most important and widespread calligraphic styles used to write Persian. It was developed in Iran in the 8th and 9th centuries. It was also occasionally used to write the original Arabic language, known as taʿliq, for the titles and headings of books or printed publications, but its use was predominant in Persian, Ottoman Turkish, Urdu, and other languages ​​of Perso-Indian influence. Nastaʿlīq is still widespread in Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan for written poetry and as a form of artistic expression (arabesque).