Ca. 1100-1200 AD. A gold scroll pendant of a cylindrical body, with its delicate tendrils and beaded lines, creates a sense of movement and fluidity, almost as if the scroll itself were unfurling before our eyes. The domed caps on either end, topped with a central filigree sphere, add a sense of balance and symmetry to the design, while the double suspension loop and four-petaled flower provide a sense of completion and unity. Scroll pendants were a popular form of jewelry in the Islamic world, particularly during the Seljuk period. These pendants often contained small scrolls of paper or vellum, upon which were written verses from the Quran or other religious texts. The scroll itself was seen as a symbol of learning and wisdom, and the act of wearing a scroll pendant was a way of demonstrating one's devotion to the faith.Size: L:14.9mm / W:47mm ; 6.04gProvenance: Property of a West London gentleman; previously in a collection formed on the UK/International art market in the 1980s.