Extremely rare & beautiful pair of Qajar Persian engraved rock crystal and silver bazu bandhs (armlets) c1790

 

This is an exquisite pair of bazu bandhs engraved with a Quranic inscription and mounted in silver. It is impossible to capture the beauty of these delightful pieces with a camera! Only the human eye can appreciate the amazing detail and the way light plays on the surface of the crystal. The crystal and silver behind the crystal are highly reflective so it is difficult to capture all the intricate detail of the engraving.

 

The rock crystal pieces have been cut into an octagonal shape and deeply engraved with a part of a verse from the Quran, surrounded with a border and floral or petal motifs.

Rock crystal is very hard and therefore difficult to engrave – it would take several days to engrave and as many days to cut and shape the piece.

 

Bazu bandhs were worn on the upper arm and hence in English they are called armlets.

 

Bazu bandhs are often found with engraved carnelian (aqeeq) mounted in silver and sometime in gold. They were worn under the armour for spiritual protection.

 

Rock Crystal bazu bandhs are rare and bazu bandhs with a Quranic inscription are even rarer – but what makes these possibly unique is that they are a pair.

 

These would have been made for a Prince or a wealthy warrior. What is remarkable about this pair is the Quranic inscription – often Ayatul Kursi or the chapters known as the “Quls” are engraved on bazu bandhs but this pair is very rare as it has a part of a verse from the Quran:

 

نَصْرٌ مِّنَ اللَّـهِ وَفَتْحٌ قَرِيبٌ

 

Which translates as:

“Help from Allah and a near Victory” or a “close Victory”

(Surah As Saff)

 

Whoever originally wore these beautiful bazu bandhs must have been very pious and spiritual as they chose a Quranic inscription and did not have it mounted in gold as gold is forbidden for men in the faith of Islam as gold is a sign of pride and ostentatiousness.

 

Each one is measures 70mm end to end x 30mm top to bottom x 5mm thickness

The rock crystal piece measures approximately 30mm x 22mm x 5mm

 

Please note that the surface of the rock crystal has some minor scratches and blemishes but this is in actual fact part of their history. You should remember that this type of bazu bandh was worn under steel chain mail and armour in battle. The steel and iron would obviously come into regular and hard contact with this rock crystal armlet. It is remarkable that these pieces have even survived intact when you take into account that battles in those days would last several hours in the heat of the Indo Persian summer.On close inspection, you can see that some of the links to the integral loops have been replaced with copper. Silver is soft and can easily split and these replacements are sympathetic and appear to be quite old.

 

Rock crystal is also known as clear quartz and it was highly sought after during the medieval period. The best ever rock crystal pieces were carved during the Fatimid period (10th Century) in the form of truly remarkable and ornate ewers (jugs). Christian Bishops would order Crusader Knights to leave gold and silver and bring back rock crystal because it was believed that these ewers had magical qualities and would reveal if water or wine had been poisoned. Rock crystal does indeed have an almost magical quality in the way that it refracts and reflects light.

 

Genuine antique rock crystal is difficult to find and such a delightful pair as these bazu bandhs will make and amazing addition to any collection.

 

Please note we have information including the prices of similar bazu bandhs (only one other example in rock crystal) that are available for prices between £1,250-£4,000.

TERMS & CONDITIONS OF SALE

All items are guaranteed genuine and as described.

A Certificate of Authenticity is provided on request.

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