PROBABLY DECCAN, 17TH/EARLY 18TH CENTURY

Details

AN INDIAN RUBY INSET GOLD SNAKE RING
PROBABLY DECCAN, 17TH/EARLY 18TH CENTURY
The entire ring formed of the gold spiralling snake's body, the back with three rows of inset rubies, the head with rose-cut diamond, sapphire eyes and small protruding ruby tongue, the inside engraved with scale-designs
1¼in. (2.3cm.) across

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Please note that this lot is withdrawn from the sale.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

This type of ring must have had significance throughout South East Asia. An inset gold ring that is very similar in concept but which terminates in a makara head was brought back from Burma in the early 20th century but was probably already of considerable age (Ann Richter, Jewelry of Southeast Asia, New York, 2000, no.104, p.97). In the caption the author notes that the majority of similar rings belong to the noble families in Bangkok who treat them as family heirlooms.

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