Near East, Persia (Iran), Seljuq (Saljuq/Seljuk) Empire, ca. 12th to 13th century CE. An exquisite and wearable Islamic gold signet ring, that was used as a personal seal with an engraved agate intaglio stone set in the face. The ring is cast from a 62.1% to 79.6% gold (equivalent to 14K+ to 18K+) with applied gold scrollwork spaced along the band and signet face, and 4 prongs hold the oval banded agate intaglio in place. The name of the owner, "Muhammad Ibrahim Al Mandali" is engraved in beautiful naskh script into the white layer of the agate. The shoulders and shank of the ring are decorated with intricate niello swirls that matched the applied goldwork. Please note the size of this ring if you intend to wear it, as the band is intended for smaller hands and makes the perfect pinky ring! Size of signet face: 0.92" L x 0.69" W (2.3 cm x 1.8 cm); band opening: 0.62" Diameter (1.6 cm); US ring size: 3.5 but wide enough to fit a size 6 finger; gold quality: 62.1% to 79.6% (equivalent to 14K+ to 18K+); weight: 11.3 grams

Naskh is a smaller, more rounded and cursive type of Islamic script and one of the first types developed by calligraphers for administrative documents and the Qur'an. Naskh is more legible than other scripts and lends itself to decoration; as opposed to the more squared Kufic style. Using naskh for signets is the obvious choice for its beauty as well as clarity when marking documents.

Provenance: private Boynton Beach, Florida, USA collection; ex-private Florida, USA collection; ex-private Dr. Yahya Jafar collection, assembled between the early 1960s and late 1990s

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#174612

Small loss to rim of bezel around intaglio, but intaglio is secure and tight in the bezel. Softening and rubbing to raised motifs. Ring is wearable!