Rock crystal intaglio seal, Iran or Afghanistan Hemispherical in shape, translucent rock crystal, engraved on the plate with an inscription in floriated kufic Arabic enhanced with black paste: "Billah 'Alî ibn [?] yathiq" / "Ali ibn [?] trusts in God". 1.5 x 1 x 0.8 cm Small chips, black paste faded in places, small roughness. The collection of archaeologist Charles Masson at the British Museum in London includes several hardstone intaglios with a similar script. All come from Afghanistan. One of them is inscribed with a formula similar to this one, but with a different proper name (1880.3650).