Seal set in a ring - Sasanian?

[Anne N]

I recently inherited the ring in this picture.  The story behind it is that, when my parents lived in Baghdad between 1960 and 1963 they used to go on picnics in the desert nearby and found various stones and seals.  This one, which is a picture of a deer, was then made into a man's ring set in rose gold.  No stamps on the gold - it was the Middle East in the sixties....

My question is whether anyone has seen something similar and, if so, perhaps you could help with further information on establishing its age or if there is a market for this type of thing?  Thanks so much

[Roma_Orbis]

Hello,

  Yes the ringstone is typically sassanian; here are seals of similar style (quick search on Pinterest). As to the value, the stones themselves are generally cheap or very cheap (compared to other classical ones like greek or roman).

Jérôme

[Anne N]

Wow thank you for that Jerome, that was quick and very helpful.

[Roma_Orbis]

As a general guideline on sassanian seal stones :
- animals are very common (the cheapest)
- writings in Pahlavi would be a plus
- portraits of rulers are very interesting
- style of engraving is everything (as for style in ancient art in general); see picture of an exceptional sassanian two layers agate intaglio from the BNF (http://medaillesetantiques.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/c33gb1v1s6)

Jérôme

[Molinari]

Wow.  That really is exceptional!

[Russ]

Hi,

     Back in the late 1960's and early 1970's, it was popular to cut down Sassanian bead seals and used the engraved part as a ring bezel.
     For stags as a design motif on Sassanian seals, see: Bevan, A.D.H.  Catalogue of the Western Asiatic Seals in the British Museum, Stamp Seals, II The Sassanian Dynasty, London, 1969: Plates 17 and 18.
     The gem probably dates to the 4th to 5th century AD.

Russ

[Anne N]

Thank you Russ for your info.  Shame there does not seem to be a market though!

[Russ]

Hi,

     Actually, the ring seems to have a "hammered" setting, beautifully done in the antique style. Kindly note, the Sassanian Empire was Persian, and today Persia/Iran is not very popular. Perhaps, when the political climate changes.

Russ