Antique Islamic Art of Ali ibn Abi Talib It's in a folding frame, mirror on one side, depicting Ali ibn Abi Talib on the other This, likely, comes from Iran, during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, in Qajar style. As one of the experts we consulted on it, from Harvard, offered; "... so will simply say that I have always considered the images of `Ali and his sons Hasan and Husayn to be on the order of a devotional image—not an icon to be worshiped, of course, but rather an aid for contemplating these holy figures, especially `Ali and Husayn ..." Ali ibn Abi Talib was the cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, ruling over the Islamic caliphate from 656 to 661 Ali was the first young male who accepted Islam.[10][11] After migrating to Medina, he married Muhammad's daughter Fatimah.[1] Ali took part in the early caravan raids from Mecca and later in almost all the battles fought by the nascent Muslim community. He was appointed caliph by Muhammad's Companions (Sahaba) in 656, after caliph Uthman ibn Affan was assassinated.[12][13] Ali's reign saw civil unrest and in 661, he was attacked and assassinated by a Kharijite while praying in the Great Mosque of Kufa, dying two days later.[14][15][16] The artfully made frame case has some wear and damage, and one of the hinges is broken, however, all-in-all, in reasonable condition for its' age. This is, at the least, a tremendous piece of art, historically significant, being of a legendary leader, and religious figure, and, what we consider "Rare", as our research yielded absolutely nothing close to resembling it. Measures 8" x 10" Open This would be for the serious collector of Islamic Art, and Artificats.