Between roughly the 7th and 10th centuries, the island of Java was home to Hindu-Buddhist kingdoms that built some of the greatest temples in Asia. Their goldsmiths made rings of remarkable boldness and symbolism, and a surprising number survive.
In brief
- Between roughly the 7th and 10th centuries, Java was home to Hindu-Buddhist kingdoms that built some of the greatest temples in Asia.
- In Classical-period Java, rings were far more than decoration: they were talismans and treasure.
- Common symbols include the elephant, "Sri" for the rice goddess Dewi Sri, and the conch and discus of Vishnu.
- 19th-century Balinese rings continue the tradition: hollow, high-carat and decorated with granulation.
Rings as talismans and treasure
In Classical-period Java, rings were far more than decoration. Temple sculpture shows both men and women wearing them. Gold rings served as status symbols, protective talismans and portable stores of wealth; precious metal was used in payments, ceremonial gifts and funerary offerings. The Old Javanese word for a ring is even linked to ideas of protection and guardianship.
The symbols
The elephant stood for strength, wisdom and royal authority, linked to Hindu-Buddhist deities such as Indra. Our ancient Javanese elephant ring has a broad hollow gold hoop and a large round bezel incised with an elephant among stylised plants. It was formerly in the Zelnik István Southeast Asian Gold Museum, one of the most important private collections of Asian art formed in Europe.
"Sri", written in Nagari script, invokes Dewi Sri, goddess of rice, prosperity and fertility. Our Javanese Sri ring has a stepped hexagonal bezel that echoes the geometry of Javanese temple architecture.
The conch and the discus (Shankha and Chakra) are the attributes of Vishnu, symbols of divine protection, cosmic order and the cycle of time. Our Javanese silver-gilt conch ring shows a conch within a radiating discus.
Museum comparisons
The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York holds one of the great collections of ancient Javanese gold, and many of its rings closely match those that appear on the market, which makes the Met's online collection a valuable reference for collectors. A ring related to our elephant ring was offered at Sotheby's in 2022.
Bali: the later tradition
Javanese goldsmithing traditions continued on Bali long after the Classical period. 19th-century Balinese rings are hollow, high-carat and decorated with granulation and ropework. In the southern Balinese style, birds on the shoulders hold the stone in their beaks, an idea that goes back to East Javanese work of the Majapahit era. Our 19th-century Balinese gold ring is a good example.
Wearing ancient gold
High-carat gold is soft, and hollow rings can dent. Many Javanese rings are robust enough for occasional wear; treat them gently and never have them resized.
Browse our ancient rings.