Lot 85. Naga ring, Burma, second half 18th century. Estimate 4,000 — 6,000 GBP. Lot sold 5,000 GBP. Photo: Sotheby's

partially enamelled gold, set with rubies - ring size: L - ring exterior diameter (including dragon head): 30mm., 1 3/16 in.

Note: These impressive and rare dragon rings have been a feature of all the great ring collections, including the Harari, Guilhou, Spitzer, Franks, and Koch collections. They are known as 'Naga rings' because they are thought to represent the naga dragon which is thought to have sheltered the Buddha during a prolonged period of meditation. Chadour suggests that these rings were made for Royalty. (op.cit.) The extravagant design certainly re-enforces the idea that they were made for lavish ceremonial use. Another example is in the British Museum (op.cit., no. 2422).

The present ring comes from the same collection as that sold on 9 July 2015, lot 121.

RELATED LITERATURE: O.M. Dalton, Catalogue of the finger rings, cat. British Museum, London, 1912, no. 2422; J. Boardman and D. Scarisbrick, The Ralph Harari collection of finger rings, London, 1978, p. 88, no. 214; A. B. Chadour, Rings: The Alice and Louis Koch collection, Leeds, 1994, vol. II, p. 620, no. 1955.

Sotheby's. Old Master Sculpture and Works of Art Including Highlights from the Reinhold Hofstätter Collection, London, 06 Dec 2016