This item has been added to the Database within the Explore Islamic Art Collections project. Information is available in: English, Arabic.

Name of Object:

Inscribed royal spinel

Location:

Kuwait City, Kuwait

Holding Museum:

Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah

About Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah, Kuwait City

Date of Object:

Before AD 1449; dated Hegira 1026 / AD 1617; dated Hegira 1030 / AD 1621; dated Hegira 1070 / AD 1659-60; dated Hegira 1168 / AD 1754-55

Museum Inventory Number:

LNS 1660 J

Period / Dynasty:

Timurid, Safavid, Mughal, Durrani

Provenance:

Central Asia; India

Description:

Inscribed royal gemstone 'balas ruby' cut from spinel (fine sightly purplish deep pink, with a soft, 'velvety' quality), drilled, manually engraved with a diamond stylus, and wheel-cut. Inscriptions: (1) Timurid, Ulugh Beg (before AD 1449); (2) Safavid, Shah Abbas I (dated AH 1026/ AD 1617); (3) Mughal, Jahangir (dated AH 1030/ AD 1621); (5) Mughal, Alamgir [Awrangzib] (dated AH 1070/ AD 1659-60); (6) Durrani, Ahmad Shah (dated AH 1168/ AD 1754-55). Weight: 249.3 carats.

Citation of this web page:

 "Inscribed royal spinel" in Explore Islamic Art Collections. Museum With No Frontiers, 2026.
https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;EPM;kw;Mus21;27;en

MWNF Working Number: KW 27