EARLY ISLAMIC STONE MATRIX FOR CASTING FISH-SHAPED PENDANT

Ca. 700-800 AD. A pentagonal-shaped hardstone panel with the carved impression of a fish-like creature with meticulously incised scales, possibly used to cast pendants. For a similar mold, but later and for conical-shaped pendants see The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York - Accession Number: 1975.32.4. Size: L:60mm / W:50mm ; 120g Provenance: Private UK collection; from an old Oxford collection formed in the 1990s.