Islamic talismans from the British Museum collection*, as featured in a color plate in Stranger Magic: Charmed States and The Arabian Nights by Marina Warner. The objects in this image, clockwise from the top left, are made from carnelian, chalcedony, garnet, rock crystal, carnelian, and lapis lazuli. Such talismans may be inscribed with prayers, the 99 names of God, or verses from the Qur’an.

*Refer to Arabic and Persian Seals and Amulets in the British Museum by Venetia Porter