Archer's Thumb Ring

Unknown

16th–17th century · Jade, gold, emeralds, ruby · Arms and Armor

A thumb ring provided the archer with a firmer grip of the bowstring. As archery was considered a noble sporting exercise, thumb rings, often carried ostentatiously on strings hung from the belt, were worn as symbols of elevated social status. This example, fashioned in pale green nephrite jade set with gemstones in gold foliate mounts, is typically Ottoman. Similar rings are associated with Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent (r. 1520–66) and his immediate successors.

Artist

Unknown

Date

16th–17th century

Medium

Jade, gold, emeralds, ruby

Culture

Turkish

Department

Arms and Armor

Credit line

Bequest of George C. Stone, 1935