1780-1840 Silver Ottoman Seal Fob (18 g)

$300.00
A finely engraved Ottoman silver seal (seal matrix), dating to the late 18th or early 19th century, engraved with an Arabic devotional inscription and housed within an elegant laurel-wreath border. The circular sealing face bears the inscription: نصر الله الرحمن Naṣr Allāh al-Raḥmān “The Victory of God, the Most Merciful.” Such pious invocations were commonly adopted as personal identifiers in the Ottoman world, particularly among merchants, administrators, and learned individuals. Rather than surnames, seals often combined religious sentiment with personal authority, serving both spiritual and practical purposes. The engraving is confident and fluid, executed in a refined Ottoman naskh hand. A small star appears above the inscription, while the surrounding laurel wreath—an emblem widely employed in late Ottoman decorative arts—lends the piece both balance and dignity. The reverse features a pierced and symmetrical silver handle, designed for suspension from a chain or chatelaine. The form is practical yet elegant, and shows clear signs of prolonged use: softened edges, surface wear, and patination consistent with genuine period handling. Importantly, the seal remains complete—handles of this type are often lost or damaged. Dimensions: 40mm tall. Weight: 18 g Check out some of my other jewelry here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/CrescentCityConnect?section_id=7399758&ref=shopsection_leftnav_1_1 Or just browse around the shop! http://www.etsy.com/shop/neurorockere
A finely engraved Ottoman silver seal (seal matrix), dating to the late 18th or early 19th century, engraved with an Arabic devotional inscription and housed within an elegant laurel-wreath border. The circular sealing face bears the inscription: نصر الله الرحمن Naṣr Allāh al-Raḥmān “The Victory of God, the Most Merciful.” Such pious invocations were commonly adopted as personal identifiers in the Ottoman world, particularly among merchants, administrators, and learned individuals. Rather than surnames, seals often combined religious sentiment with personal authority, serving both spiritual and practical purposes. The engraving is confident and fluid, executed in a refined Ottoman naskh hand. A small star appears above the inscription, while the surrounding laurel wreath—an emblem widely employed in late Ottoman decorative arts—lends the piece both balance and dignity. The reverse features a pierced and symmetrical silver handle, designed for suspension from a chain or chatelaine. The form is practical yet elegant, and shows clear signs of prolonged use: softened edges, surface wear, and patination consistent with genuine period handling. Importantly, the seal remains complete—handles of this type are often lost or damaged. Dimensions: 40mm tall. Weight: 18 g Check out some of my other jewelry here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/CrescentCityConnect?section_id=7399758&ref=shopsection_leftnav_1_1 Or just browse around the shop! http://www.etsy.com/shop/neurorockere