AN OCTAGONAL CARNELIAN PENDANT
Iran or Southern Iraq, 19th century

The octagonal hardstone finely carved in nasta'liq with greetings to the Holy Prophet and his family in Arabic, the ground intricately carved with scrolling foliage, signed 'Ali Rezai Saleh', encased in a voluminous silver frame worked in marquise shaped openwork with scrolling motifs along the sides, a single large openwork marquise to the back, stamped 'Amal Gholam (the work of Gholam), the pendant's hook behind an openwork coronet, the silver with gold point highlights, 6.5cm x 4.3cm x 1.9cm.

The use of openwork techniques in religious objects is in accordance to the sumptuary laws that prohibit the use of precious metals in forms that might hold liquids.