Oval seal made of clear glass, with a finely engraved inscription in Arabic on one side. The other side is plain, and slightly concave in shape.
Seal to be mounted on a ring, Iran. Major R. Jackson who donated this ring seal to the Horniman Museum gives the following account of how it would have been used: “[Such seals were used] frequently by merchants and when a deal was consummated each party handed over his seal to the other who, after wetting the document to be sealed with his licked thumb, pressed the seal upon an ink pad and then reproduced it on the moistened document!” However, this seal served more than just an economic purpose. As with many Islamic rings our seal is amuletic, beseeching Imam Hossein's help in the owner's favour. The inscription reads, "Ya Imam Hossein" or, "O Imam Hossein". Probably glass. Formerly in the collection of Major R. Jackson. Donated to the Horniman Museum in 1966.
