Rings Jewelry

A Roman bronze coin, struck around 403 for the boy emperor Theodosius, now set in silver. Rings here range from Indus Valley gold to Ashanti brass and contemporary sterling, from India, Tibet, Afghanistan, Ghana, Bali and the ancient Mediterranean. Widow’s mite coin rings come from 1st century BCE Judea, and Indus Valley rings reach back to the Bronze Age. Ashanti brass rings from Ghana are cast with mudfish and bullet motifs, symbols that also turn up in Akan goldweights and regalia.

Tibet sends a saddle ring of silver and coral, and Afghanistan a ring set with a pre-Islamic folded glass bead. Indian rings come in gold, eye agate and turquoise, and Balinese silversmiths work bone, bronze and fossil mammoth tusk into sun and moon designs. Dogon and Ethiopian brass fill out the case. Stack two or three on one hand, or let a carnelian seal ring work alone. A ring is the only antique most people wear every day.