This pair of ivory manuscript covers were likely made originally for a Hindu religious text, as suggested by their central medallions depicting the south Indian iconographic forms of two Hindu deities, Varaha and Yoga-Narasimha (for comparative representations in metal sculpture, see M.87.160.2 and M.91.232.8). Although varying in thickness and stylistic detail, each medallion has a concentric border of crenellated leaf forms. Each cover has an intricately carved inner border and a chamfered outer border in the form of curved laplets. The inner border of cover B with Yoga-Narasimha is a foliated arabesque creeper, while the inner border of cover A with Varaha is a flowering vine that incorporates nonsensical letterforms in what is most likely intended to constitute a pseudo-Arabic inscription.
Pseudo-inscriptions are well known in the arts of Islam, being found particularly on amulets, textiles, ceramics, painting, and architecture. Although illegible or esoteric in meaning, pseudo-inscriptions were created for a number of overt reasons: to affirm symbolically the legitimacy or sanctity of a place or object, to evoke specific social or religious contexts or practices, to ascribe a certain cultural identity, to symbolize or abbreviate sacred and/or magical formulae, and for fraudulent purposes. The rationale here for the occurrence of a pseudo-Arabic inscription on a Hindu literary object is enigmatic.
