Seal Ring with Inscription

Dated to the late 15th or early 16th century, this elaborate gold ring was created during a period of political and religious transition in Persia and Central Asia, making its precise cultural context difficult to determine. The early 16th century, often called the beginning of modern Persian history, witnessed the decline and fragmentation of the Timurid dynasty, which had ruled present-day Iran, Central Asia, and the Indian subcontinent since the late 14th century. The Timurids are widely acknowledged for their achievements in art and literature, particularly calligraphy, painting, and manuscript illumination. By the late 15th century, however, Timurid power was rapidly weakening due to civil wars and internal partitions. By 1500, the Safavid Empire had secured control of Iran and its surrounding regions, emerging as the most significant dynasty in the Islamic period. Scholars place this ring at the intersection of the Timurid and early Safavid periods, reflecting how the Safavid dynasty in many ways continued Timurid artistic traditions while gradually developing its own distinctive style.

The ring itself is engraved with religious verses known as the Nad-I 'Ali, an invocation to Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib, the son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad, along with additional references to the Prophet himself. Historically, Nad-I 'Ali was recited in moments of difficulty, which aligns with the ring's talismanic qualities—including its dragon motifs, symbols of divine power in both Timurid and Safavid art. According to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, some scholars argue that the invocation to Ali, typically associated with Shia devotion, would not appear on Timurid works. The Timurids were Sunni, while the Safavids promoted Shia Islam, and for this reason the ring is sometimes attributed to the Safavid period. Other scholars challenge this reasoning, noting that Timurid artisans could have been commissioned to produce objects containing either Sunni or Shia devotional content, especially given that Sunni Muslims also held deep reverence for Ali. Some also say that the dragon motif and nephrite seal point to Timurid production due to its connections with Central Asia.