- 151
An exceptional imperial Ottoman archer's ring (zihgir), India and Turkey, 16th century
Estimate
30,000 - 40,000 GBP
bidding is closed
Description
- jade set with gold and gemstones
the pale grey jade of typical form, with emeralds and diamonds set into gold mounts on the jade
Condition
In overall good condition, as viewed.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
Catalogue Note
The zighir, which was worn on the thumb of the right hand of the archer to provide protection as well as to smooth the way for the bow, was an important functional item of jewellery. This ring belongs to a rare group of high quality Ottoman hardstone carvings made for the hazine, the Treasury of the Sultans.
The group consists of personal as well as ceremonial items that include tankards, bowls, drinking vessels and pen cases, as well as plaques for attachment to swords, saddles and horse trappings. A gem-set tankard of this type was recently acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum (inv. no. ME.5-2011, and for further examples, see E. Atil, The Age of Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent, Exhibition Catalogue, National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C. 25th January-17th May, 1987, pp.113-175).
Robert Skelton describes how this technique was achieved in his seminal paper on Ottoman jades: “the gems were not set into the jade but were in small cylinders of gold rising from circular plaques of gold foil on the surface of the stone. Thus each gem and its enclosing sheath of gold is like the calyx of a small flower and the effect is confirmed by the connecting stems and small leaves with engraved veins which form a net over the surface of the stone. These stems and leaves are stiffly formalised and the gems are disposed over the surface fairly closely at regular intervals so that the total effect is very rich and stylised.” (Robert Skelton, 'Characteristics of later Turkish jade carving' in Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress of Turkish Art, Budapest, 1978, p.796).
A portrait of Mehmed the Conqueror smelling a rose, attributed to Shiblizade Ahmed, clearly displays an archer's ring such as the present lot on the hand of the Sultan (Topkapi Palace Museum, TSM H 2153, f. 10a). A small group of similar archer's rings are preserved in the Topkapi Palace Museum treasury (Gul Irepoglu, Imperial Ottoman Jewellery, Istanbul, 2012, pp. 236-36, TSM inv. nos. 2/83, 2/76, 2/72, 2/88).
The group consists of personal as well as ceremonial items that include tankards, bowls, drinking vessels and pen cases, as well as plaques for attachment to swords, saddles and horse trappings. A gem-set tankard of this type was recently acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum (inv. no. ME.5-2011, and for further examples, see E. Atil, The Age of Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent, Exhibition Catalogue, National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C. 25th January-17th May, 1987, pp.113-175).
Robert Skelton describes how this technique was achieved in his seminal paper on Ottoman jades: “the gems were not set into the jade but were in small cylinders of gold rising from circular plaques of gold foil on the surface of the stone. Thus each gem and its enclosing sheath of gold is like the calyx of a small flower and the effect is confirmed by the connecting stems and small leaves with engraved veins which form a net over the surface of the stone. These stems and leaves are stiffly formalised and the gems are disposed over the surface fairly closely at regular intervals so that the total effect is very rich and stylised.” (Robert Skelton, 'Characteristics of later Turkish jade carving' in Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress of Turkish Art, Budapest, 1978, p.796).
A portrait of Mehmed the Conqueror smelling a rose, attributed to Shiblizade Ahmed, clearly displays an archer's ring such as the present lot on the hand of the Sultan (Topkapi Palace Museum, TSM H 2153, f. 10a). A small group of similar archer's rings are preserved in the Topkapi Palace Museum treasury (Gul Irepoglu, Imperial Ottoman Jewellery, Istanbul, 2012, pp. 236-36, TSM inv. nos. 2/83, 2/76, 2/72, 2/88).