Amulet, 11th century; Fatimid
Egypt
Ink on paper
Technical Glossary
Egypt
Ink on paper
H. 9 in. (23 cm), W. 3 1/4 in. (8.4 cm)
Gift of Nelly, Violet, and Elie Abemayor, in memory of Michel Abemayor, 1978 (1978.546.32)
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 that were kept in amulet boxes. The text on this amulet is in the angular kufic script. The six-pointed star, a familiar symbol in Islamic art, is usually called "Solomon's seal."
