Carved Mughal Emerald

This emerald plaque, shaped to wear on the body or for mounting in a piece of jewelry, weighs 217.8 carats, and is carved on both sides. On one side is an inscription--a prayer blessing Muhammad, Fatima and the twelve imams and providing a date of 1107 AH (1695-96 CE). On the other side is a floral motif--a central rosette surrounded by poppies. Both sides have a rectangular border incised in a diaper pattern. A small number of other Indian inscribed emeralds are known; four have Quranic inscriptions while one, evidently taken from the Mughal treasury by Nadir Shah (r. 1148-1161 AH/1736-47 CE), bears his name and the date of 1153 AH (1740-41 CE). This example, however, is the largest. The appearance of Quranic verses or prayers on five of the known examples suggests that such stones were believed to have talismanic properties.