A finely rendered agate Sasanian seal stamp featuring an oval shape with a domed back. The flat face of the seal has been carved with the depiction of a zoomorphic creature, possibly a dog or a horse. The animal is portrayed in a stylised manner: a large eye is executed with carved circles, whilst the bristles of the mane are shown by carved lines. A star decorates the background above the creature's head. The seal is perforated horizontally for suspension. The impression is for reference only. Seals were often made of stone however there are also examples rendered in bone, ivory, faience, glass, metal, wood, and even sun-dried or baked clay. In the ancient world, seals guaranteed the authenticity of marked ownership – as such, they were instrumental in legal transactions, and in the protection of goods against theft. Seal amulets with stylised animals have been found throughout Mesopotamia in contexts dating to the late fourth millennium BC, although stamp seals and cylinder seals were the predominant types in the ancient Near East. Measurements: L 1.4cm x W 1.3cm X H 1.1cm Provenance: Ex major SM., London, Collection 1970-2010.