11th C. Persian Gold Ring Garnet Intaglio w/ Peacock

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Exceptional Ancient, Ethnographic, & Fine Art...

By Artemis Gallery

Mar 9, 2023

Set Reminder 2023-03-09 10:00:00 2023-03-09 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Exceptional Ancient, Ethnographic, & Fine Art https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/exceptional-ancient-ethnographic-fine-art-12354
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• Lot Description
  **Originally Listed At $2750**
  
  Near East, Persia (Iran), Seljuq (Saljuq/Seljuk) Empire, ca. 12th to 13th century CE. An elegant cabochon garnet intaglio of a peacock, set into a high-quality gold ring setting and band further embellished with cast avian motifs – cast from an 85.86% to 97.77% gold (equivalent to 20K+ to 23K+)! The high oval bezel houses a deep wine-red cabochon garnet, held in place by 4 prongs; the stone etched with a peacock made by simple linear markings. The sides of bezel lip contain low relief motifs of scrolling foliage and stippling. The broad shoulders of the shank displays pairs of birds facing left and right in profile, the band then tapers to a hollow oval on the underside, that once contained a small gem - suggesting this was a thumb ring. This is a stunning piece that may have been a signet ring or seal for an important member of society! Size of bezel face: 0.56" L (1.4 cm); band opening: 0.7" L (1.8 cm); US ring size: 7; gold quality: 85.86% to 97.77% (equivalent to 20K+ to 23K+); weight: 8.2 grams
  
  Peacocks are powerful symbols of aristocracy - in Persian cultures they were associated with the sun, beauty, glory, immortality, and wisdom. The name garnet comes from the Latin word "granatus," meaning "seed-like" - a likely allusion to the similarities in appearance of small red garnets and pomegranate seeds that also had connotations of fertility and prosperity in the Near East. Garnets were popular gemstones, considered just as beautiful as rubies. The very earliest descriptions of garnet date to Roman times; Pliny the Elder (23/24 to 79 CE) referred to the dark-red variety as carbunculus alabandicus, the fire-stone from the city of Alabanda (modern Turkey), an important market place for gemstones found in Asia during Pliny's time.
  
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  Provenance: private Boynton Beach, Florida, USA collection; ex-private Dr. Yahya Jafar collection, Muscat, Oman, assembled between the early 1960s and late 1990s
  
  All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
  
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  #174614

  Condition

  Missing gemstone on small bezel on underside of band. Surface abrasions to gold band, some bending to band. Softening to raised gold motifs on bezel lip. Garnet is slightly loose in bezel but secure via the prongs. Garnet is intact and peacock motif is well preserved and excellent. Ring is wearable!
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