Talismanic Scroll
Unknown Artist
11th century
Medium
Ink on paper; block printed
Dimensions
H. 10 7/8 in. (27.61 cm) W. 3 1/8 in. (7.9 cm)
Classification
Codices
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Nelly, Violet and Elie Abemayor, in memory of Michel Abemayor, 1978
Accession Number
1978.546.36
Tags
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Islamic Art collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, this *Talismanic Scroll* from the 11th century is a testament to medieval spiritual practices. Crafted by an unknown artist, the narrow scroll—measuring just 10 7/8 by 3 1/8 inches—fits easily in the hand, suggesting it was designed as a portable amulet. Gifted in 1978 by the Abemayor family in of Michel Abemay, it exemplifies the codex classification while embodying the scroll format, a bridge between ancient manuscript traditions and protective artifacts. What stands out is its pioneering medium: ink on paper, block pr...