RingFirstfinger

Eleven examples of antique Omani silver rings for the First Finger (next to the thumb)

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Antique Omani silver Shadid ring

Common ring. The "al shadad" is the term for the forefinger in Arabic and is so called  because a Muslim points this finger alone when uttering the shahadah the Islamic doctrinal formula. Some of the rings have chased decoration with gold-wash or with  granulation. The eleven Shadid  rings shown in the slide-show have two basic shapes:

a) Circle surmounted  by a lozenge-shape

b) Teardrop design

These rings are often finely engraved with flowers and or leaf designs.

Antique Omani Silver ringOmani antique silver ring

Antique Omani ringAntique Omani silver ring s

Omani antique silver ring Antique Omani silver ring 

Omani antique silver ringOmani antique silver ring

 Antique Omani rings

 

Al Hazm Fort Decoration

Ancient decoration Oman Al Hazm Fort, inside the cannon tower

Arab names: Shadid / Shahid / Shawahid  ( meaning Witness )

Period: 1900-1970

Origin: Worn throughout Oman,but most common in Northern Oman and Dhofar.

References:
  • Craft heritage of Oman Vol 2 p 445 item 062
  • Tribute to Oman 18th National day "Ring Cycle Masterpieces of traditional jewellery" by  R. Richmond  p 149-153
  • Oman Adorned by Pauline Shelton  Robert Richmond / Apex London 1997 p 112-115
  • A tribute to Oman National day Volume X "Muscat and its custom houses" Robert Richmond. Apex page 80
  • Disappearing treasures of Oman 1998 by Avelyn Foster p 84 fig 79 
  • Silver the traditional Art of Oman 2000 (new edition)
  • Ruth Hawley p 36 ; Traditional silver jewelry and handicrafts from Oman 2009 by Jean Greffioz p 112
  • Islamic Art in Oman page 355
  • Oman Faces and Places page 136
  • Catalog of the Oman exhibition in the Nieuwe Kerk Amsterdam 2009 page 16,  132  (poor example)