PROBABLY DECCAN OR SOUTH INDIA, 17TH CENTURY

Details

AN INDIAN RUBY INSET GOLD RING
PROBABLY DECCAN OR SOUTH INDIA, 17TH CENTURY
The simple strong hoop with a band of cabochon rubies surmounted at one side with a large bird with ruby inset back, wings and head, pendant pearls from the mouth, wings and tail, the underside with simple engraved chevrons
Bird 1¾in. (4.5cm.) long; overall 2in. (5.1cm.) high

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 15% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Sale room notice

Please note that this lot is withdrawn from the sale.

Lot Essay

A very similar ring was sold in these Rooms 6 October 1999, lot 127. The form of both birds is similar to that on a ring with a very different shank in the Khalili Collection attributed to India, perhaps Mysore, 18th century (M. B. Piotrovsky and J. M. Rogers, Heaven on Earth, exhibition catalogue, Munich, London and New York, 2004, no.126, p.176). A ring of very similar from but more elaborate detailing was drawn by William Burges in around 1870. He captioned it "Tipoo Sahib's hawking ring", and while the inscription on it precludes it having been made for him, it is clear that it was made for a local maharaja from whom Tipu would have taken it before he himself ceded it in 1792 (Susan Stronge, Nima Smith and J. C. Harle, A Golden Treasury, London, 1988, pp.40-41 and fig.15).

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