Lot Essay
The high pronounced shoulders of these rings are typical of a series of examples produced in Egypt of which the most impressive was sold in these Rooms 10 October 1989, lot 453). A comparable example with niello decoration is in the Khalili Collection (Wenzel, M.: Ornament and Amulet -- Rings of the Islamic Lands, London, 1993, no. 177, pp.58-9 and 214), where it is dated to the 12th century. Derek Content, in his catalogue of the Zucker Collection, dates them to the 14th or 15th century Mamluk period, based on earlier research (Content, D.: Islamic Rings and Gems, the Benjamin Zucker Collection, London, 1987, nos.55-56, pp.93-97, ill.pp.198-199).