Lot 7A
Southern Arabia, Himyarite Kingdom, ca. 4th to 5th century CE. A striking example of ancient Arabian regalia, this solid 21.6 karat gold signet ring bears an inscription of lasting power and identity. The form is sculptural and dignified, with smoothly tapering shoulders rising into a thick, oval bezel, where a monogram in ancient South Arabian Musnad script has been finely engraved in bold, angular strokes. The script, read from top to bottom and right to left, records the name: "Ammi-Dhakhurat Watar." The name "Watar" is one steeped in the royal traditions of southern Arabia, known from Sabaean monumental inscriptions as a title of kings and high-ranking elites. "Ammi," a theophoric element meaning "kinsman of," further links the name to dynastic identity. Size: 0.9" L x 0.6" W (2.3 cm x 1.5 cm); US ring size: about 3 (ovoid shape inhibits use of mandrel); gold quality: 89.8% (about 21.6 karats); weight: 10 grams
Together, the inscription suggests this ring once adorned the finger of an individual of high status - possibly a court official, hereditary noble, or a provincial leader under the rule of the Himyarite Empire.
The Himyarite Kingdom flourished from the 1st century BCE through the 6th century CE, unifying the territories of Saba, Qataban, Hadramaut, and Ma'in into a southern Arabian empire. Situated at the crossroads of incense trade routes and Mediterranean-Indian Ocean commerce, Himyar developed a literate, gold-rich elite class whose members wore rings such as this to authenticate documents, seal alliances, or signify their role in both worldly and spiritual hierarchies.
Seal rings held administrative as well as symbolic value, and the use of South Arabian script - stylized yet deeply legible - reflects a long-standing tradition of official epigraphy adapted to personal ornament. The monogram format of this ring mirrors that seen on other elite artifacts from the region, which favored compressed vertical arrangements for both aesthetic balance and legibility in seal impressions. The ring's dense weight, high-purity gold, and legible inscription make it not only a jewel of status, but a historical statement - one linking personal authority with the broader cultural and political currents of late antique Arabia.
Provenance: private Toronto, Ontario collection; ex-Derek Content collection, London, UK, 2011; ex-Kamal Taffal collection, Jordan
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#195770
- Condition: Light surface wear commensurate with age. Intact, excellent, and wearable with clearly incised inscription.
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