Collection of Samaritan Seals, 19th and 20th Centuries / Seal of the Samaritan High Priest

Opening: $3,500
Estimate: $4,000 - $6,000
Sold for: $4,375
Including buyer's premium
Thirteen personal seals of Samaritan religious leaders and of the Samaritan High Priest Ya'akov ben Aharon ben Shlomo. Engraved in metal (brass and various white metals). Palestine, mid-19th century and early decades of 20th century.
All seals bear inscriptions in Arabic (except for one which also bears a Hebrew inscription), giving the names of their owners, usually with the added titles "Kahen" (=priest) or "Al-Kahen" (=the priest), along with "Amran" and "Sadaka"; evidently, all the seals belonged to Samaritan priests. Most seals dated.
1. "Atuha (?) Al-Halak Abed Al-Halak 63" (probably 1263 Hijri [= 1847 CE]).
2. "Salam Ali Alamaran 85" (probably 1285 Hijri [= 1868 CE]).
3. "Ra'is Ruhi Ta'aifat Al-Samra" ["Spiritual Leader of the Samaritan Congregation"] Yakoub Haroun Al-Kahen 1297" (1297 Hijri [= 1880 CE]). This is the 120th High Priest of the Samaritan Community, Ya'akov ben Aharon ben Shlomo.
4. "Ishak Kahen 1313" (1313 Hijri [= 1895 CE]).
5. "Shukrallah [in Hebrew] / min (?) Ishak Shukrallah Kahen (?)."
6. "Shafiq Kahen 1321" (1321 Hijri [= 1903 CE]).
7. "Abda Amran Ha-Kohen 1328 (?)" (1328 Hijri [= 1910 CE]).
8. "Sadaka Kahen 328" (1328 Hijri [= 1910 CE]).
9. "Ibrahim A'i (?) 1334" (1334 Hijri [= 1916 CE]).
10. "Taufiq Kahen 1334" (1334 Hijri [= 1916 CE]).
11. "Ishak Sadaka Kahen 1336" (1336 Hijri [= 1918 CE].
12. "Abda Ishak Al-Kahen 1337" (1337 Hijri [= 1919 CE].
13. "Ghazal Al-Kahen 931" (probably 1931 CE).
Size varies, approx. 1X2 cm to approx. 1.5X2.5 cm; handles 2.4 cm to 4 cm in length. Condition varies, most in good condition.
Graphic Art, Drawings, Jewish Ceremonial Art and Various Objects
Graphic Art, Drawings, Jewish Ceremonial Art and Various Objects