Omani Silver Amulet Pendant with Coral & Chain (Kirsh Kitab)

This chain and pendant is from Oman. Known locally as a kirsh kitab, it was intended to serve as a protective amulet for the wearer.

The front is engraved with the so-called Throne verse from the Koran: ‘Allah, there is no god but Him…’  Such text was used to exorcise evil spirits.

The verse gets its name from the words ‘His throne is as vast as the heavens and the earth.’ There has been a persistent belief in the Gulf region that this verse in particular is imbued with magical qualities and so the wearing of jewellery inscribed with the verse is supposed to have a particularly protective quality.

The reverse is engraved with a stylised figure of a djinn, an Islamic spirit.

The pendant has a large and elaborate hoop at the top with two round natural coral beads mounted in silver on each side.

The chain is a double chain of silver.

A similar example is illustrated in Hoek (2004, p. 63) and Forster (1998, p. 39.)

This type of pendant and necklace with the Throne verse was only ever worn by women in Oman.

The item is in excellent condition and is very wearable.