Talismanic Scroll

Unknown

11th century · Ink on paper · Islamic Art

Centuries before block-printing was introduced in Europe, the technique was used in the Islamic world to produce miniature texts consisting of prayers, incantations, and Qur’anic verses. These were kept in amulet boxes and worn close to the body or attached to a weapon. The text on this eleventh century scroll from Fatimid Egypt is in kufic script. References to warding off the evil eye and rewarding the punisher of demons who seeks refuge in the Qur’an point to the apotropaic powers of the text.

Artist

Unknown

Date

11th century

Medium

Ink on paper

Department

Islamic Art

Credit line

Gift of Nelly, Violet and Elie Abemayor, in memory of Michel Abemayor, 1978