Description:

A CALLIGRAPHIC INSCRIBED RING WITH BLACK HARDSTONE, TIMURID IRAN, 15TH CENTURY
Timurid Iran, 15th century

Description:
A gold ring set with a carved black hardstone intaglio inscribed in refined naskh script. The stone is oval and smoothly polished, with inscriptions likely consisting of talismanic invocations or benedictory phrases, deeply incised across the flat surface. The gold mount is thick and substantial, featuring a simple yet elegant band that enhances the presence of the central stone.

The calligraphic execution is crisp, suggesting the work of a skilled lapidary, and the ring shows age-appropriate signs of wear. The combination of the dark stone and yellow gold gives the piece a strong visual contrast and a dignified presence, characteristic of Timurid-era Islamic jewellery.

Dimensions:
Diameter: 2cm
Weight: 10g

Comparable examples:

  • A Timurid inscribed hardstone ring, sold at Sotheby’s, Arts of the Islamic World, London, 25 April 2018, Lot 92, sold for £6,250. 

  • A comparable 15th-century Persian ring with inscribed stone, Bonhams, Islamic and Indian Art, London, 22 April 2015, Lot 81, sold for £5,625. 

  • A similar Timurid-period intaglio set in gold, Museum of Islamic Art, Doha, published in Timur and the Princely Vision, Roxburgh, 2000.

Note:
Rings such as this were worn not only as personal adornment but also as seals, religious amulets, and symbols of learned refinement. The Timurid period witnessed a flourishing of courtly arts, and objects like this reflect the synthesis of intellectual, spiritual, and artistic traditions at the time. The use of a dark inscribed stone set in luminous gold is emblematic of high-status craftsmanship in 15th-century Persia.

 

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May 6, 2025 1:00 PM BST
London, United Kingdom

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
£0 £99 £5
£100 £199 £10
£200 £499 £20
£500 £999 £50
£1,000 £1,999 £100
£2,000 £4,999 £200
£5,000 £9,999 £500
£10,000 £19,999 £1,000
£20,000 £49,999 £2,000
£50,000 £99,999 £5,000
£100,000 £199,999 £10,000
£200,000 £499,999 £20,000
£500,000 £999,999 £50,000
£1,000,000 + £100,000