Large Persian Qajar period gold damascened steel 'Alam

This superb Persian Qajar period ‘Alam is crafted from pierced steel damascened with gold. An ‘Alam is a standard used by the Shi’a community in processions marking the martyrdom of Imam Husain, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, who was killed at the Battle of Karbala in 680 CE.

The ‘Alam is shaped like a drop, with an outer steel border encompassing an interior wrought from steel intricately pierced with arabesques, with Thuluth calligraphy highlighted with damascened gold. Two nestled interior drop steel bands are adorned with further damascened gold scrollwork, with the pierced section between the two featuring further gilt calligraphy. The outer inscription quotes Sura 96 (al-‘Alaq) of the Quran, verses 2 and 3, while the inner border reads ‘As salam aleikum, Abu Abdullah’.

The ’Alam is surmounted by an elaborate damascened crest, which is an extension of the two interior drop borders. The piece is raised on a metal support above a stepped plinth.