Inventory no.: 722

722. Islamic Equestrian Amulet, Central Asia

SOLD

Large, Rare Silver Gilt, Turquoise & Agate Equestrian Koranic Amulet Case

Emirate of Bukhara

19th century

height: 92cm, width: 25cm

weight: 1.784 kg

This massive hollow ornament of gold-covered, high-grade silver embellished with semi-precious stones was made to hold Koranic verses and other items with amulet-like properties. Possibly it was worn around the neck of a horse most probably on the occasion of a wedding procession, but otherwise would have hung on a wall inside an aristocratic house as a protective device.

Almost certainly it came from the holdings of the Emir of Bukhara or a similarly aristocratic family. The Emir’s family and other aristocratic families lost their assets in 1920 when the Emirate was overrun by Russia’s Red Army and the position of Emir was abolished. Almost all other known similar large amulet boxes, including this example, were acquired by a single American collector around this time. A large amulet of related form but decorated with enamel work rather than applied gilded silver work is in the collection of Kuwait’s Tareq Rajab Museum. The Kuwait piece is provenanced to the ‘last emirs of Bukhara’ (Tareq Rajab Museum, 1994, p. 76.)

The crest-like top of the amulet box is hinged on one side and lifts up to allow access to the interior. It is kept closed by means of a silver pin attached to a silver chain.

The box is suspended from two chains of four gilt pendant cartouches each, and these are suspended from a double chain of finely twisted silver wire.

Nine chains of suspended pendants hang from the ornament. These, like the other pendants and the amulet box itself, are of silver gilt, with numerous filigree bosses and filigree floral applique, and turquoise and turquoise ceramic cabochons. (See the last, detailed image.)

A large slice of banded agate is mounted in the centre of the amulet box.

The Emirate of Bukhara was a Central Asian state that existed between 1785 and 1920. It occupied a region formerly known as Transoxiana.

The ancient trading outposts of Samarkand and the emirate’s capital, Bukhara, were the principal cities and it bordered the Khanates of Khiva and Kokand. It is now within the boundaries of Uzbekistan.

The Emirate was founded in 1785 by the the Manghit emir, Shah Murad. The Emirate lost a war with Imperial Russia in 1868 and Russia annexed most of the Emirate’s territory. The Emirate became a Russian protectorate in 1873. The position of the Emir remained of which Abd al-Ahad (Emir 1885-1910) was particularly notable. (This amulet most probably dates from his rule.) The conservative Emir Mohammed Alim Khan was removed in 1920 when the Emirate was over-run by the Red Army and the Bukharan People’s Soviet Republic was established.

Several similar amulets were included in Christie’s New York, ‘Indian and Southeast Asian Art’, March 31, 2005, lots 213-217.

Overall, this is a rare, visually stunning, extraordinary item from the Islamic world. It is in excellent condition, contains a great deal of high-grade silver and is ideal for display mounted against a wall.

Provenance

the Kate Kemper Collection

References

Mansel, P., Sultans in Splendour: Monarchs of the Middle East 1869-1945, Parkway Publishing, 1988.

Tareq Rajab Museum,

Tareq Rajab Museum, Kuwait, 1994.

Christie’s New York, ‘Indian and Southeast Asian Art’, March 31, 2005, lots 213-217.

Inventory no.: 722

SOLD

The Emir of Bukhara and Ministers, circa 1905.

Abd al-Ahad, Emir of Bukhara (1885-1910).