I need help identifying the text on this ring I recently acquired. I believe it to be Arabic calligraphy on an agate stone, and it to read: "Mirza Baba his servant", which was an Iranian artist during the Qajar dynasty. That could place this piece 1789-1834, but I'm not exactly sure. Any helpful thoughts?
Oh, M Eddy, I love hedgehogs, welcome. The stone is carnelian/cornelian, the name we give chalcedony (a form of quartz, which is also the main constituent of agates) when it is in the color range of pale to dark orange. The little I know is that rings with a carnelian stone are very popular with Muslim men because the Prophet was said to have worn one. Think they often have a Qur'anic verse. The translation you have for this one suggests a declaration of faithfulness on the part of the wearer. Think this is a case where AI did a pretty good job: Islamic carnelian (or Aqeeq/Aqiq) rings are a popular type of jewelry that holds significant cultural and spiritual importance in Islamic tradition. The Prophet Muhammad himself is reported to have worn a silver ring set with a carnelian stone, making wearing one a sunnah (a recommended practice) for many Muslims. Significance and Symbolism The carnelian stone, particularly the red or golden-orange variety from Yemen, is highly regarded in Islam. Divine Favor and Protection: According to some hadiths (sayings or traditions of the Prophet), wearing a carnelian ring is believed to guard against evil, banish poverty, and bring divine favor and happiness. Blessings and Courage: The stone is associated with bringing barakah (blessings), courage, protection, and tranquility to the wearer. Historical Context: Prophet Muhammad used his carnelian and silver ring as a seal for letters sent to rulers inviting them to Islam, with the engraving "Muhammad rasool Allah". Many rings today feature similar calligraphic engravings of Quranic verses or holy names.
I just wanted to see a little better: The simple construction of the ring is not inconsistent with the early 19th century, but could have made any time in a span of what I would think is hundreds of years. I don't know how to establish whether this Mirza Baba is the artist or another of the same name.
Looks it to me. May not be sterling in quality. Historically the Middle East was less fussy about the fineness of silver than they were about gold. Silver can get really black, as we've often seen in postings here of antique silver. The setting of this cameo, the parts that are not pearl or diamond, is silver. It dates to the turn of the 19th century:
I would expect a ring once owned by Mirza Baba the Qajar court artist to have had a setting that was finished better, not as irregular. That said, the stone could have been reset after his lifetime, by someone who wasn't as well connected and well-off. In the late 18th century silversmiths (and authorities) in the Middle East generally used silver from Maria Theresia Thaler (MTT), Austrian silver coins with a fineness of .833, because those had a reliable fineness. So they would have used at least .833 during Mirza Baba's lifetime. In the late 19th century Iran began to use .840 fineness marks, and later still .900 as well. The other countries in the region continued to use mostly MTT silver. Non-silver jewellery was also made, just like anywhere else. So they were fussy in the Middle East, they insisted on a coin with a reliable fineness as a source for their silver. And I would certainly expect a good fineness from a ring made for someone who worked at the Qajar court. The photos are very small, but it looks like the ring could be in the .830s.
Yes, sterling, .925 fineness, was only a standard in the English speaking world. Even though it was of German origin with a (corrupted) Dutch name. Other countries had anything from .600 - 1000, with the .833 MTT fineness as lowest legal fineness in many countries.
Thank you all for your input and information, very fascinating that the Middle East used MTT silver in the late 18th century. It would make sense to use a reliable coin silver for jewelry!
