Ritual ring, Bastar, Madhya Pradesh, India

Cast brass ritual rings worn by Muria tribal men. Bastar, Madhya Pradesh, India.

According to Oppi Untracht (see literature), these are use as male fertility symbols at the time of plowing and wowing crop seeds. Typical subjects depicted standing on the band are a farmer with a pair of bullocks drawing a pliw, a field of growing grain and a water well.

From early 20th century.

Provenance: European private collection.

Dimensions:

Size:4 x 5 x 1,8 cm
Ring size: US 9 – 19 mm (inner diameter)

Literature:

“Traditional jewelry of India”, Untracht, Oppi, Harry N. Abrams. Inc publishers, 1997, p. 203
“Bagues ethniques d’afrique, d’Asie et d’Amerique”, van Cutsem, Anne, Skira, 2000, p. 146, 147
“Jewelry from the Orient (Bir Collection)”, Seiwert, Wolf Dieter, Arnoldsche, 2009, p. 143