signet-ring
- Museum number
- 1880.3855.a
- Description
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Copper alloy, flat oval bezel and part of the shank of a signet-ring, cast in one piece. The bezel is engraved with a schematic female figure, left hand on hip, right arm bent at the elbow with the hand raised, her hair tied in a bun. A scarf (?) is loosely looped round her shoulders and hangs down either side to her feet.
- Production date
- 1stC (circa)
- Dimensions
-
Height: 14.10 millimetres (bezel)
-
Thickness: 1.20 millimetres (shank)
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Width: 12.10 millimetres (bezel)
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Width: 3.20 millimetres (shank)
- Curator's comments
- Found in relic deposits 'Box 4' in large blue-trimmed tray labelled '1052', i.e, South Kensington Museum no.1052/India Museum no.3: '19 coins extracted with stone box from Tope Chaharbag [Chahar Bagh Stupa 4]. No. of beads &co.' (see 1979,0215.21-41, 1880.96, 1880.3983.a and 1880.4116).
E. Errington: The identification of the signet ring bezel as being from Bimaran Stupa 2 is based on Masson's description of a 'small metallic plate - apparently belonging to a seal, and engraved with a seated figure' (Wilson 1841, p.71) and the fact that the diagnostic small stone crosses (see 1880.3855.b) were located in the same tray. For other finds from BImaran Stupa 2, see also 1880.27, 1880.3691, 1880.3695, 1880.3696, 1880.3851, 1880.3893, 1880.3982, 1900,0209.1; IOC.201-IOC.204.
C. Fabrègues: A similar, but more sinuous figure on a seal is reputably from Taxila (Callieri 1997, pp.133–4, no.M6, pl.31: see A 1905,0601.2). For other signet-rings depicting the same image and further discussion, see 1880.3702.d-e.
Bibliography:
Callieri, P. (1997) Seals and Sealings from the North-West of the Indian Subcontinent and Afghanistan (4th century BC–11th century AD). Local, Indian, Sasanian, Graeco-Persian, Sogdian, Roman, Naples.
- Location
- On display (G33/dc51a/s2)
- Acquisition date
- 1880
- Department
- Asia
- Registration number
- 1880.3855.a
- Additional IDs
-
Miscellaneous number: 1052 (South Kensington Museum no.)
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Miscellaneous number: 3 (India Museum no.)