Ring

Unknown

12th–13th century · Gold; cast, engraved, granulation · Islamic Art

This gold ring is cast and engraved with an exceptional number of figures, representing frontal heads and harpies. Harpies become a common representation in Islamic art from the second half of the 11th century, and only for a period of about two centuries, in all the regions from Central Asia to Anatolia ruled by dynasties of Turkic origins, such as the Ghaznavids and the Seljuqs. As human-headed birds, they have a hybrid nature, and were thought to have had protective and magical powers. They might also have an astrological significance, as symbolic depiction of the sign Gemini. Rings with appliqués and hexagonal bezels, as this one, are considered to have slowly disappeared in the 13th century.

Artist

Unknown

Date

12th–13th century

Medium

Gold; cast, engraved, granulation

Department

Islamic Art

Credit line

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Everett Birch, 1976