Bidspirit auction | AN INDO-PERSIAN ENGRAVED BRASS TALISMANIC

AN INDO-PERSIAN ENGRAVED BRASS TALISMANIC DISH, LATE 19TH CENTURY/ EARLY 20TH CENTURY. - A late 19th or early 20th-century circular brass dish of Indo-Persian origin, featuring intricate engraved and chased decoration across the entire surface. The design is organised around a central circular medallion containing a calligraphic invocation within a starburst border. Radiating from this centre are several concentric bands of fluid Arabic calligraphy in Naskh or Thuluth script, typically containing protective Quranic verses such as the Ayat al-Kursi (Throne Verse) or the Mu'awwidhatayn. The composition is partitioned into four quadrants by square panels positioned at the cardinal points. These panels contain numerical magic squares known as wafq, consisting of grids filled with abjad numerals and specific Arabic letters, including the disjointed letters Ha Mim and the letter Waw. The bottom square contains numerals including 388, 362, and 389. Such items were traditionally used in Islamic folk medicine and occult practices for protection and healing.  D: Approximately 6.7cm