Roundel

Unknown

11th century · Gold; filigree, granulation · Islamic Art

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.

Artist

Unknown

Date

11th century

Medium

Gold; filigree, granulation

Department

Islamic Art

Credit line

The Alice and Nasli Heeramaneck Collection, Gift of Alice Heeramaneck, 1980