Traditional ring making is one of the most prominent handicrafts of Qom in the field of metal working. Beginning from years ago, numerous artists have been making these metal rings and this craft has developed during recent years.
There are different opinions regarding the history of wearing rings but what is certain is that the habit of wearing belongs to ancient times. It seems that Egyptians were the first nation to make rings, but according to Iranian legends and the book “Norouz Nameh”, the first human who created a ring and wore it was Jamshid, the fourth Shah of the Pishdadian dynasty of Persia. Undoubtedly, change of religion has gradually affected the designs and styles of jewelry making.
One example is that before Islamic era, the rings were decorated with symbolic signs, but during the Islamic era wearing rings gain religious usage, too, because it is an Islamic tradition and there are many hadith that encouraged it. That is why from Islamic era the designs of the rings changed into religious motifs.
Today various kinds of rings are created with diverse designs. Some of the most important designs are “Shabakeh” or latticed, Fili, Safavid, Shirazi or Zanjani. Each of them is ornated with many motifs and many different names. For example, some kinds of the latticed rings are “Do Gol” (two flowers), “Seh Gol” (three flowers), and “Lalehi” (tulip). Fili rings can be found in different lattice and incrustation (a step in making jewelry that is consisted of both gems and metal is inserting the gemstone).
Safavid rings are created in both simple and lattice designs. A traditional jewelry making workshop can only make a few numbers of rings per day and that is why most of the rings are unique and limited. Most silver rings that are created in Qom are men rings. And most of the artists of this field are men, too. Most of the jewelry makers in Qom has learned this craft independently and from elder masters.
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