Cleveland Museum of Art

Ringstone

Date

200s BCE

Medium

steatite

Culture

India, Maurya period (322–185 BCE)

Department

Indian and Southeast Asian Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

Ringstones are among the earliest works of art to be created in stone during India's historical period. This example is finely carved with detailed images of affectionate couples and palm trees, running animals, and geometric motifs in concentric circles. The function of ringstones remains uncertain, since none of the surviving examples is inscribed or explained in a text.

The authoritative record is held by Cleveland Museum of Art. LinkedCulture surfaces this object and its connections; it does not alter institutional metadata.