Talismanic Scroll

Art Historical Context

This delicate Talismanic Scroll, created by an unknown artist in the 11th or 12th century represents a fascinating blend of faith and artistry from the Islamic world. Measuring just 6 1/8 inches high and 1 1/2 inches wide, the small ink-on-paper piece was likely designed for personal use, perhaps carried as a protective charm. Its classification among codices highlights the importance of written texts in medieval Islamic culture. In Islamic tradition, such scrolls often combined Quranic verses or symbolic inscriptions to offer spiritual safeguarding. The compact format allowed the object to be worn or kept close to the body, making art both functional and intimate. Created with precise ink work on paper, it reflects the era’s reverence for calligraphy as a sacred medium. Now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Department of Islamic Art, this scroll was a generous gift from Richard Ettinghausen in 1975. It invites modern viewers to appreciate how everyday objects once served as bridges between the material and the divine.