Shah Jahan Jade Pendant

This jade plaque is one of the few surviving pieces to have once belonged the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan (r. 1037-68 AH/1628-58 CE). It is delicately inscribed on the front and back with verses from the Qur'an, a scrolling floral design, and two dates: 1041 AH (corresponding to 1631-32 CE); and the regnal year 4 (also corresponding to 1631-32 CE). The front of the pendant includes Qur'an, II, 255 followed by the year 1041 AH; the reverse includes Qu'ran, XXIII, 97-98, XII, parts of 64; LXVIII, 51-52; LXXXV, 20; and the regnal year '4', while along the bottom edge is the inscription, "Shah Jahan Padshah, son of Jahangir Padshah, son of Akbar Padshah.” The plaque has been identified as a haldili, or amulet, because of the selection of Quranic verses, its shape, and its manufacture from jade, which was ascribed curative properties. This coupled with the year of its making, just after the death of Shah Jahan's wife Mumtaz Mahal in 1040 AH/1631 CE, has led to the suggestion that it was made to help him through this time of grief.