Bronze Age Bone Amulet seal - 1 cm
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Current bid
€ 1
Reserve price not met
Expert
Selected by Ruth Garrido Vila
Directed the Ifergan Collection Museum, specialising in Phoenician and Mediterranean archaeology.
Estimate € 550 - € 650
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 Bidder 8645 | €1 |
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A splendid carved bone seal-button from the Bronze Age (circa 2250–1900 BC), measuring 1 cm high, 2 cm wide and 1 cm deep, in excellent condition, with provenance from a Belgian auction house and a private-collection previous owner, acquired in 2024, authentic original piece.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Magnificent carved bone signet-button
A rare Bronze Age piece (about 4,000 years old)
Unique piece
This superb carved bone object is a signet-button (or multi-compartment seal), characteristic of the high cultures of Central Asia and the ancient Near East. Unlike traditional buttons, this type of piece served both as an ornament and as a seal to mark ownership.
The “spool” shape allowed the object to be attached to clothing or worn as a pendant. The transverse hole enabled inserting a leather thong or an bone pin to seal onto a fabric or hide, thereby signaling the social status or identity of its owner.
Iconography and Style
One can discern a finely engraved design depicting a stylized antelope (or ibex) with long horns extending backward.
On the right: the forelegs.
In the center: the body of the animal.
On the left: the hind legs.
Above: the head crowned with two long horns that run along the back, an emblematic motif of the steppes and the earliest horse-riding civilizations.
Condition
This ancient seal is very solid. It is made of bone that has mineralized over millennia, giving it a smooth patina and a hardness close to stone. Its preservation is exceptional for an organic object of this age.
An archaeological treasure
This is an object of great rarity, a witness to a time when the first major trade routes linked the East to the West (Oxus civilization or similar cultures).
I have not found an equivalent object in this state of preservation despite my research. This artefact has major historical interest and deserves to join a meticulous collection or a museum in order to be preserved.
I guarantee the authenticity of this artefact as well as its provenance. It is one of the finest pieces in my collection.
Magnificent carved bone signet-button
A rare Bronze Age piece (about 4,000 years old)
Unique piece
This superb carved bone object is a signet-button (or multi-compartment seal), characteristic of the high cultures of Central Asia and the ancient Near East. Unlike traditional buttons, this type of piece served both as an ornament and as a seal to mark ownership.
The “spool” shape allowed the object to be attached to clothing or worn as a pendant. The transverse hole enabled inserting a leather thong or an bone pin to seal onto a fabric or hide, thereby signaling the social status or identity of its owner.
Iconography and Style
One can discern a finely engraved design depicting a stylized antelope (or ibex) with long horns extending backward.
On the right: the forelegs.
In the center: the body of the animal.
On the left: the hind legs.
Above: the head crowned with two long horns that run along the back, an emblematic motif of the steppes and the earliest horse-riding civilizations.
Condition
This ancient seal is very solid. It is made of bone that has mineralized over millennia, giving it a smooth patina and a hardness close to stone. Its preservation is exceptional for an organic object of this age.
An archaeological treasure
This is an object of great rarity, a witness to a time when the first major trade routes linked the East to the West (Oxus civilization or similar cultures).
I have not found an equivalent object in this state of preservation despite my research. This artefact has major historical interest and deserves to join a meticulous collection or a museum in order to be preserved.
I guarantee the authenticity of this artefact as well as its provenance. It is one of the finest pieces in my collection.
Details
Culture
Bronze Age
Century/timeframe
Bronze Age Period (2250-1900 BC).
Name of object
Amulet seal
Acquired from
Auction house
Year acquired
2024
Material
Bone
Country acquired from
Belgium
Condition
Excellent
Previous owner acquired from
Private collection
Height
1 cm
Previous owner - year acquired
2024
Width
2 cm
Previous owner - country acquired from
Belgium
Depth
1 cm
I verify that I have obtained this object legally and that I am allowed to sell it
Yes
Authenticity
Original/official
Sold by
Disclaimer
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
