Ring

12th–13th century

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 453

Jewelry was ever-present in the Islamic world despite some religious proscriptions against the use of precious metals. This example–unusual for its compact appearance–shows the high technical skill reached in the field, combining inlay and fine engraving with such complex techniques as openwork and chasing.
The hexagonal bezel is decorated, in the recessed medallion, with affronted ducks and the shank terminals are anthropomorphic. The massiveness of the gold is very unusual for early Islamic jewelry and unlike any known from medieval Iran.

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

Exhibition History

References

Title: Ring
Date: 12th–13th century
Geography: Attributed to Iraq
Medium: Gold; cast, chased
Dimensions: H. 1 1/8 in. (2.8 cm)
W. 1 1/8 in. (2.8 cm)
D. 7/8 in. (2.3 cm)
Classification: Jewelry
Credit Line: Gift of Alastair Bradley Martin, 1948
Object Number: 48.154.10
Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

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"Preparing Medicine from Honey", from a Dispersed Manuscript of an Arabic Translation of De Materia Medica of Dioscorides, 'Abdullah ibn al-Fadl, Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper — "Preparing Medicine from Honey", from a Dispersed Manuscript of an Arabic Translation of De Materia Medica of Dioscorides
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Folio from a Qur'an Manuscript, Ahmad ibn al-Suhrawardi al-Bakri, Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper — Folio from a Qur'an Manuscript
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Muhammad ibn Aibak ibn 'Abdallah
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Section from a Qur'an, Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper; tooled leather binding — Section from a Qur'an
probably second half 13th century

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