This elegant ring has been fabricated from gold sheet and a cabochon turquoise stone. According to eleventh-century polymath and natural philosopher Al-Biruni, turquoise in the medieval period was believed to immediately dispel the harmful effects of the evil eye. This ring therefore would have served both as a talisman, and as an ornament meant to adorn the wearer.
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Artwork Details
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Title:Ring
Date:12th–13th century
Geography:Found Iran, Gurgan
Medium:Gold and turquoise stone
Dimensions:Ht. 13/16 in. (2 cm) W. 9/16 in. (1.5 cm) D. 3/8 in. (1 cm)
Classification:Jewelry
Credit Line:Rogers Fund, 1952
Accession Number:52.32.6
Gold Rings: nos. 52.32.5, 52.32.6 and 1980.541.6
Two medieval Iranian ring types are represented by nos. 52.32.5, 52.32.6, and 1980.541.6. The shanks of nos. 52.32.5 and 1980.541.6 are not unrelated to the shank of MMA no. 1976.405, although they are less elaborate.[1] The heavy setting claws on all three rings, as well as the style of the rectangular sealstone of 52.32.5, are further confirmations of the date and place of origin. The conjunction of a ring and its original sealstone, as in the latter case, is valuable in that each part helps to provide a context for the other. This is the earliest sealstone in the Museum's collection that bears a cursive script. A particularly beautiful example of this type, also with its original sealstone (of red jasper), is in the Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore (57.59.6).
No. 52.32.6, in contrast, harks back to the hollow gold and silver rings from Nishapur (e.g. nos. 40.170.201, .202, .156), which also show a development from Roman models. An additional element here, however—as with a number of other known hollow Persian rings of the period—are the heavy claws so characteristic of this school.
[Jenkins and Keene 1983]
Footnotes:
1. Segall, Berta. Museum Benaki, Katalog der Goldschmiede-Arbeiten. Athens, 1938, no. 306, pl. 59; Korzukhina, G. F. Russkie Kindy IX-Xlllvv. Moscow, 1954, no. 13, pl. XXIX.
Majid and Feraidoon Movaghar, Tehran and New York (until 1952; sold to MMA)
New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Islamic Jewelry in The Metropolitan Museum of Art," April 22–August 14, 1983, no. 33b.
Jenkins-Madina, Marilyn, and Manuel Keene. Islamic Jewelry in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York, 1983. no. 33b, p. 64, ill. (b/w).
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The Met's collection of Islamic art is one of the most comprehensive in the world and ranges in date from the seventh to the twenty-first century. Its more than 15,000 objects reflect the great diversity and range of the cultural traditions from Spain to Indonesia.
