Roundel
This splendid gold roundel exemplifies the refinement of Seljuq goldsmithing by virtue of its construction and combination of techniques. The filigree on the surface is laid on a ground of thin, gold strips arranged in concentric circles, a technique influenced by contemporaneous jewelry from Syria and the Fatimid dynasty in Egypt. The object resembles a sunburst, and its central element, now lost, might have been a gem or gold dome surrounded by six stars, symbolizing the planets. It could have been sewn onto a man’s headdress, as seen in images of Seljuq grandees.
Artwork Details
- Title: Roundel
- Date: 11th century
- Geography: Made in Iran
- Medium: Gold; filigree, granulation
- Dimensions: D. 3/16 in. (0.5 cm)
Diam. 2 13/16 in. (7.1 cm)
Wt. 0.9 oz. (25.5 g) - Classification: Jewelry
- Credit Line: The Alice and Nasli Heeramaneck Collection, Gift of Alice Heeramaneck, 1980
- Object Number: 1980.344
- Curatorial Department: Islamic Art
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first half 11th century
11th–12th century
11th–12th century
11th–12th century
12th–13th century
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